Ray grew up near Chillicothe, Missouri. After leaving high school, he worked as a farmhand and had his own hauling business for a time. Ray married Susan Boes in Missouri in 1961, although they later divorced. He moved to the Chehalis area around 1965, following his then father- and mother-in-law, wife Susan and two oldest children, Sheryl and Mark. He was a driver for S.C. Breen Construction before settling in Chehalis and adding two more daughters to their family, Emily and Jamie. Ray started his career at National Frozen Foods in 1967 and worked there until he retired in 2001.
In 1983, he married Alta Potter, splitting time between his Adna property and Centralia home until they divorced several years later. In 1992, Raymond married Marlene Rolfe and purchased a new property to build a shop in the Salzer Valley of Centralia.
Ray spent his spare time "scrapping" metals to recycle and repair, then reselling heavy equipment such as Caterpillars. He took yearly trips to visit family in Missouri, usually around Thanksgiving. He also owned a trenching and backhoe company for a time, which he operated on weekends during the 1980s. He loved his six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, most of whom live in the Centralia-Chehalis area.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, J.J. and Ruby Hines; brothers, Howard, Bill and David; sisters, Ruth and Bonnie, all of Missouri; and son-in-law, Micheal Rogers of Chehalis. He is survived by his brother, Carl; sisters, Wilma, Alice, Mary, Janette and Twyla; his children, Sheryl Rogers, of Chehalis, Mark Hines, of Boistfort, Emily (William) Rodocker, of Oakville, and Jamie (Tracy) Peterson, of North River; all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews in Missouri and surrounding states.
Ray will be remembered for his work ethic and his love of meeting people through collecting junk and “treasures.” He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on April 12, 2025, at the Newaukum Grange, 710 Highway 603, Chehalis.
