Raymond O. Brown

Angels came and took a gentle soul, Raymond O. Brown, on October 9, 2014, to join his beloved wife, Bridget Brown. He leaves behind daughters Roberta Hansen, Alena Hernandez (Miguel ) and Nephew Richard Andrews (Cheryl), plus several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great- great grandchildren.

Raymond was born November 25, 1922 at Ft. Morgan, Colorado. He attended school in Lorenzo, Nebraska where his parents (of 10 children) farmed. The family moved to East Wenatchee where Ray's father ran a gas station called Signal Oil. And as a young man you would find him there helping to run the gas station. The family then located to Arlington, Washington where they did farming and attended to cattle. Ray held various jobs such as Great Northern Railroad and then worked in a pre-fab product company where they built pre-fab houses. He ran what was called a lumber carrier. Ray joined the Army and was stationed at Camp Roberts, New Guinea and the Philippines, as a Tech Sergeant.

Ray worked as a Civil Service employee at Tacoma, Washington where he met his beloved wife, Bridget "Birdie" Brown. They were married sixty-three years. Ray was transferred to Larson Air Force Base, Moses Lake in 1949. While working as a civilian he also would hold down two or three other jobs, such as Phillips 66 OK Service, which was owned by Leonard Cook. The Phillips 66 gas station was located where Taco Time is now. You would also find him driving truck for various companies. He is a piece of history in this community as he watched Larson Air Force Base close and the Job Corp came in. But he obtained a contract with the Job Corp where he taught auto mechanics, welding, maintenance classes and ran a crane. He did not retire from there until he was 80 years old. To this day numerous people who have known him would recognize him when they saw him in town and would stop to talk to him.

Ray's residence has always been in Cascade Valley where he was the Chief of the Volunteer Grant County Five Fire Department, Company 4, which consisted of community volunteers. The old fire hall is a monument and reminder to many children growing up because of the "fire hall dances" for the children and square dancing for the adults. He helped establish the Cascade Valley Water District which is in existence today and served as the Water Commissioner for years. He was also involved with the Job Corp when students helped build the Cascade Valley Park which is now owned by the City of Moses Lake.

Being a self-taught auto-mechanic his garage was always full of people who would stop by needing help. Up until his passing several grown men would stop by to let him know how much he meant to them as teenage boys because he would spend time in his garage teaching them and they were able to (over the most part) stay out of trouble. These were certainly the good o'l days when neighbors helped neighbors and looked out for each other. This is how he built his own home with the help of his father, Jack Orr, Dell Busherd and Bob Busherd.

Family express their gratitude to those who helped care for him and extend a special thank you to Leslie Daniels, CNA, who cared for him during the day so he could remain in his home. He loved her so much because they became play mates. A person could see him being pushed in his wheel chair around town by Leslie and going on numerous outings enjoying their ice cream. And also a special thanks to the nurses and CNAs at Lake Ridge, on the Butterfly Lane - B hall. You all made him comfortable and extended so much love to him the last couple of months.

Services are being held at the Kayser's Chapel of Memories Funeral home, 831 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake on October 17, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. Burial with military honors will follow at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L. NE. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.