Raymond J. Evans Jr.'s Obituary
Ray was born on February 22, 1921 in Bellingham, WA to Raymond J. and Edyth (Bulloch) Evans.
Ray passed away peacefully on May 30, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving wife Dorothy and his children, grand children and great grandchildren.
Ray enlisted in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, where he was serving as a member of the crew of a HIGGINS boat assisting in the rescue of a group of Marines of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division who had become surrounded by enemy Japanese forces on the beachhead of Guadalcanal. Chief Signalman Evans, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, gallantly remaining at his post during the entire evacuation maintained control of the boat with one hand on the wheel and continued to fire his automatic machine gun, with the other until the last boat cleared the beach. For his heroic actions Ray was awarded the Navy Cross.
Ray enjoyed a full and wonderful life with three careers: one in the military, one a superintendent of a large complex apartment projects and finally, after 20 plus years as a member and secretary in the Washington Council and Tacoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited concerned with saving and restoring the wild salmon, steelhead and trout stocks of Washington State.
Ray was blessed by God to meet and marry the lovely, sweetest, most unselfish great lady, his soul-mate, Dorothy Viola Jackson (Dottie to Ray). Ray has cherished every moment of all the years since they met in June, 1939 followed by their marriage on May 15, 1943, which brought great and everlasting joy to Ray’s heart.
God Bless Dottie and all those that at some point enriched their lives by their presence.
A graveside service for Ray will be held at Mountain View Memorial Park, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 on Wednesday June 5, 2013 at 11:30am.
Following the service for Ray a reception will be held in the Oak Room at the Celebration of Life Center at Mountain View Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. 584-0252. Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com.
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