Raymond E. Smith

Raymond E. Smith, age 88, a longtime resident of North Bend, Washington, died on Sunday, May 22, 2011, in Seattle, Washington. Ray was born on May 5, 1923, in Silesia, Montana to Eugene F. and Grace E. (Webber) Smith. He graduated high school in Edgar, Montana in 1941.He then moved to Seattle where he was employed by the Boeing Company. There, he met Ethel N. Crowder and was married on February 28, 1944. In June of 1944, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Asiatic Pacific and was wounded in action at Okinawa. After his discharge, he moved to the Snoqualmie Valley where he worked for the Weyerhaeuser Company, retiring in 1984. He remained in North Bend until health conditions required his move to Seattle.Ray had served on the North Bend Fire Department from 1958 to 1986 and was named Fireman of the Year in 1985. He was a member of the Snoqualmie Valley American Legion and VFW.Relatives include three daughters, Janet Harvey and her husband Robert, Elaine Smith and Laurel Webb and her husband Ken all of Seattle; a son Roger Smith and his wife Sharon of Hoquiam; four grandchildren, Deneise Stigen of Anchorage, Alaska, Anthony Smith of Sedro Woolley, Washington, Alyson Giola of Plainville, Connecticut and Sarah Webb of Seattle; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.In addition to his wife Ethel, a daughter Margaret Mayo died previously.A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 am on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at the Fall City Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the North Bend Fire Department. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.