Obituary of Ray H. Ford

RAY H. FORD Ray H. Ford passed away June 5, 2011 in Vancouver WA. He was 85 years old. Ray was born May 4, 1926 in Crego, WA; a small community near Chehalis, to William "Bill" and Clara Joost Ford. He came to Vancouver by train when he was four years old, along with his parents and younger brother and sister. The family moved to Battle Ground where Ray helped his Dad build up a herd of registered Jersey cows. He started working at Battle Ground Cheese Factory at age 16, along with doing the chores at home. The family then moved to a farm on Woodburn Hill north of Camas where Ray and his Dad operated a grade A dairy. Ray married DeEtte McPherson in August of 1951 and they lived on a farm next to his parents. They had 4 children. Later, when his father passed away, Ray went to work at Hi-Way Fuel. In 1962 he moved his family to a home on the Washougal River, where he fished for salmon and steelhead. He went on to work at General Tire Company and then as a machinist at Industrial Plastics at the Port of Camas-Washougal; he retired from there in 1991. He was certified as a Master Hunter with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; he raised beautiful vegetable gardens and won many blue ribbons for his photography. Ray is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, DeEtte and four children: Christine Hughey and her husband Mark of North Bonneville; Ralph Ford and his wife Kathy, and daughter Catherine Ford of Washougal; son Richard Ford at home; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and his sister Betty Ford of Washougal. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ken "Shorty" Ford of Brush Prairie, and his infant great-grandson. Contributions in Ray's memory may be made to East County Fire and Rescue @ 600 NE 267th Ave., Camas, WA 98607. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 10th at 11:00am at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00pm at The Homestead Tavern in Washougal. Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences or to sign the online guest book please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.