Chan K Razey

Chan “Butch” Razey, (75), of Naches, WA, tragically passed away on July 12, 2023. Butch was born to Glenn and Arlie Wilson Razey on December 23, 1947 in Yakima, WA. Butch was raised on the 3rd generation (now 5th generation) fruit orchard in Naches. As a teenager, Butch was full of adventure. He spent many hours hiking, exploring, hunting and fishing in the Cascade Mountains in his 1948 CJ2A flat hood Jeep, Harley Davidson motorcycle, Evinrude snowmobile, and Cushman Scooter.

Upon graduation from Naches Valley High School in 1967, his sense of adventure expanded to Alaska. Butch and Garret Schilperoort canoed the entirety of the Yukon River from White Horse, Yukon Territories, to the mouth at the Bering Sea. He canoed the Yukon River three more times in his lifetime. As a young man, he was an avid traveler. He explored Egypt, Peru, Australia, Beirut, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Bolivia, Honduras, Singapore, Philippines, Venezuela, Chile, Turkey, Denmark, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and Mongolia. He adventured in 6 of the 7 continents.

In 1971, Butch was in charge of building and running a fish cannery for Northern Commercial Company in Emmonak, Alaska. It was there he met his first wife, Cecilia Charlie. Butch and Cecilia moved back to Naches and helped run the family farm for the rest of his life. Butch and Cecilia had two children, Ann (1973) and Randy (1976). While having a family curbed some of his adventures, this opened the way for Butch to express his other amazing artistic talent of building and fabricating. There was nothing Butch couldn’t dream up and build, and all had an artistic flair-- from the rocket jungle gym and wooden dinosaurs in the front yard, to the yurt and other small cabins that many enjoyed visiting. In 1984 Butch married Sonja Hoss who had a daughter, Shelly, and together they had a son, George (1985).

Butch never met a person that he couldn’t share a story about one of his adventures, or to show off his newest creation. Some of these stories grew over the years and some were complete fabrications; however, his listeners were always enthralled with the story. Butch also loved helping people and was quickly on scene to save life and property in emergencies, or to fix or repair something broken.

Butch is survived by his three children: George and his wife Kim and children Henry and Petra; Randy; Ann and children Mackenzie, Colter, Glenna, and Cecilia; and stepdaughter Shelly and children Brandi, Charlie, Heather, and Makaila. Butch is also survived by his sister, Robin Simmons, and her husband Ernie Simmons, along with his nephew Kory Simmons and niece Tara Mize.

Butch was predeceased by his parents, Glenn and Arlie Razey.

A service is planned for 11:00 AM on Tuesday July 25, 2023 at the Naches Cemetery. A potluck reception will follow At the family home in Naches.

Butch was a great supporter of The Tieton Junior Rifle Club. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Tieton Jr. Rifle Club, 1640 Clemans Dr., Naches, WA 98937

Or: Naches Fire Association, PO Box 911, Naches, WA 98937. To leave a memory for the family please visit keithandkeith.com