Loren Ray, 81, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

Born April 22, 1937, in Pollock, Idaho to Charles and Iva Ray, Loren later moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where Loren attended school.

After high school Loren served in the Air Force, as an Air Police Officer in Mountain Home, Idaho and was honorably discharged on April 10, 1959.

Raising his family in Grants Pass, Loren worked in local plywood mills, advancing to management as head of the millwrights, Master Mechanic.

When he wasn’t working at the mill, he would restore and paint cars, paint houses and loved building things. When his older boys were in school, he would volunteer to play in the donkey basketball games every year. He was active in Cub Scouts, building the troops’ Pinewood Derby track and helped build a championship Pinewood Derby car.

He was instrumental in bringing Little League to Grants Pass, where he was manager of the very first Little League championship team in Grants Pass. He liked to hunt and fish earlier in his life and then discovered a love for river rafting where he guided many people, over the years, down the wild and scenic Lower Rogue River, often running the rapids most would rather line their rafts down.

He moved to Orcas Island in the mid-1990s and was a local concrete contractor here in the islands until his retirement in 2008. His work here in the islands will probably outlast all of us. He poured the concrete sidewalks in Eastsound, he played a big part in the Orcas Island Skatepark, and he poured many foundations and other concrete projects for islanders. He would often volunteer his time and resources for the concrete projects of local organizations.

He really was a bigger-than-life character, and those who were his friends will surely miss him.

He was and always will be a great dad, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Dad will always be loved and missed by us, his family. Thank you to all who have offered support and condolences.

He is preceded in death by his siblings Joe Ray, Violet Richards and Dorothy Carne; a son, Edward; a grandson, Loren and his ex-wife Dorothy Mascherini. He is survived by his sisters Mickie Fabian and Roberta Planchon of Grants Pass, Oregon. Services for Loren will be held at a later date in Grants Pass, Oregon. Those wishing to share a memory, send condolences or attend the service can email fortloren@outlook.com.