Raymond Edward Gunn

September 30, 1934 – January 5, 2020

Raymond Edward Gunn of Moses Lake passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 5, 2020.

Raymond was born in Spur, Texas, to Lloyd and Thelma Gunn on Sept. 30, 1934. During his childhood they moved several places. After leaving Texas their travels took them to Arizona, California and Oregon working as laborers in the fields harvesting many varieties of crops. They eventually settled in Sherwood, Oregon. The family called Sherwood home for four years; it was the longest they stayed in one spot. This was due to the gas rationing and Pa couldn’t pack up the family and move about. In March of 1952 Ray joined the Air Force at the age of 17. He spent most of his active duty stationed in Japan during the Korean War. His last year of service was at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He received an honorary discharge in March 1956.

New Jersey is where he met Lucy in the winter of 1954 and they later married March 27, 1955.

In spring of 1956 they moved to Moses Lake to farm with his Pa in Block 40. After one year of farming and just barely eking out a living, he left the farm and started working for Boeing as an airplane mechanic. After employment with Boeing he owned and operated a combination liquor store and shoe store in Othello. He wore many hats as so many of us remember.

At a young age he and his whole family always had a love for motorcycles. He first met Robert Knievel at the Moses Lake Honda Store, which was the beginning of a long-lasting friendship. Later Knievel and Ray were on the road performing at race tracks in Central Washington promoting Knievel’s jumps, trying to make an extra dollar.

There was no money in that adventure but there were lots of stories. He worked at the old Pay-n-Pak in Moses Lake for approximately three years. During that time Knievel called and asked him to come back and work for him again. At this time he was single and wanted a change; the money sounded good and the two were back together on the road. But like always it was too much of a whirlwind life for a down-to-earth quiet man and he was ready to move on. He agreed to one more jump over the Snake River, Sept. 8, 1974.

The jump in Twin Falls, Idaho, was exciting and spectacular and viewed worldwide but ended with Knievel parachuting to the bottom of the Snake River canyon several thousand feet below. Ray left Knievel and moved back to Moses Lake where his son Raymond Shawn Gunn was born in January 1975.

He started working for Columbia Sand and Gravel/AAA Ready-Mix from the spring of 1975 up until retirement in 2012.

He met and married Frances in July of 1991. Motorcycles are what he loved along with many days on the lake water skiing. He rode for over 72 years and at the age of 83 he retired from riding.

He is survived by his son Raymond Shawn Gunn; stepsons Jeffrey (Carrie) and Shawn (Jill) Robnett; grandson Gavin Gunn; step-granddaughters Stephanie, Shiann, Samantha, ShaylieAnn, Kayla, Avery and Rachel; brother Burt (Shirley) Gunn and numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Thelma Gunn, sister Betty Jo Reynolds and brother Jimmie Dale Gunn.

A celebration of life will be held at Mulligans at The Pointe at Moses Pointe Golf Course June 27 at 2 p.m.