Raymond E. Fletcher

Born Jan. 31, 1924 in Los Angeles to Erma and Fred Fletcher. He spent most of his childhood in and around L.A., with the exception of the few years that they lived in Thousand Oaks. There, they lived next door to his family's

"Gobel Lion Farm". He, his brother Johnny and his sister Pat often spoke about falling asleep to the sound of lions roaring. Most of the family worked in the movie industry in one way or another. He also spoke of stopping to peek in the windows of Walt Disney's garage to watch them work on his way to school.

When Ray was around 16 years old, he and his brother took a trip to Seattle in Johnny's Model A Ford Roadster. They camped along the way. While visiting family in Seattle he met Ruth, his wife to be. Then came Pearl Harbor and WWII. His brother first and then Ray joined the Navy. Ray ended up at Whidbey Island Boot Camp. He looked up Ruth again and shortly after they were married.

He worked most of his life in heavy construction and usually as a boss (which suited him). He lived a good life with his wife and 3 kids. He was liked by most. He and Ruth loved to tent camp and did a lot of it. Usually that involved a couple of extra neighbor kids and a couple of dogs too--the more the merrier.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, his son Tim, and daughter Katherine, leaving behind his daughter, Teresa and grandchildren Chris and Holly. There is so much more to this story. We love and miss him.