Raymond Rufus Drysdale

1927 - 2021

Raymond Rufus Drysdale

December 26, 1927 - January 9, 2021

The family of Raymond Rufus Drysdale is saddened to announce the passing of this family and community icon on January 9, 2021. He lived among us, whether deeply or briefly, for a full 93 years. Few were untouched from knowing him. His biography highlights joy and adventure, which he shared unconditionally with those he loved. Here is a brief recap of his life well lived.

In Rays very productive life he is most known for his lengthy and successful career in education. It should be noted, however, that Ray Drysdale worked in many different jobs in his life: He worked the family farm, he herded sheep on horseback, and he suffered time in a slaughter house. He picked fruit, he drove a tractor, he drove a motorcycle, the drove a cab, he drove a city bus, he was an accountant, he was a waiter, he was a private in the United States Army, and a salesman. He was exceedingly proud of being a policeman in Washington DC during the Truman administration, and worked many years as a brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He was also a mailman, a drivers education instructor, an apartment owner and manager, a shopping center owner, a sex education teacher, and a politician.

Ray was a twin. He and his brother, Rex, were born to Charlie and Lillian Drysdale in 1927 in Austin, Colorado. Charlie, a farmer and a rancher, arrived in Delta County, Colorado by way of covered wagon from South Dakota in 1896. Lillian Drysdale served from 1942 to 1966 as the Austin, Colorado post master.

Ray was stationed in Japan right after WWII which qualified him to go to college on the GI Bill. He returned to the states to embark on his quest to earn a college degree. He had determined long ago that he didn't relish the arduous life of a farmer, and so he received his bachelor degree from Colorado State College, Greeley, Colorado and his Masters Degree from the University of Wyoming. Of note during this time period he met Norma Irene Nelson from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Seeking to avoid the wrath of his mother, Ray and Norma eloped one summer night to Aztec, New Mexico to find a judge to marry them. He was on the train the next morning to Washington DC and Norma joined him soon after. In Washington DC he took jobs as a bus driver, a cab driver, and a police officer, but his dream was to be a teacher.

Ray was offered his first teaching contract on January 7, 1954 from a school district in Parks, Nebraska for the amount of $3,300 a year. This great event launched his 46 year career in education.

His next teaching position was in Midwest, Wyoming where he taught at the high school. He got this job by lying to the superintendent that he could coach basketball. Although it would appear to most people that Ray had absolutely no athletic knowledge nor ability, he coached the basketball team that year to its first ever state championship.

After suffering through several frigid winters in Wyoming, Ray decided to move his family to a warmer climate. He literally got out a map, found the deserts of Arizona, and began his pursuit of a school district in the desert. Yuma High School hired him in August 1957 to teach social studies for a contract amount of $5,500.

Ray was among the most popular and beloved of all Yuma High School teachers. His class, senior problems, was a required course for all seniors. Some say Ray would still be teaching at Yuma High School if opportunity would not have come knocking; but it did. After 29 years at Yuma High School, Ray was appointed by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors to the position of Yuma County Superintendent of Public Schools. As an elected official, Ray served for over 15 years. In this time he provided nursing and counseling services to students in the rural corners of Yuma County, opened two accommodation schools, and lead the team establishing the Yuma County Teacher of the Year banquet and Hall of Fame.

Like so many have shared how Ray inspired their career paths; he also inspired his second wife, Valerie Mae McCullough, to seek a college degree and become a teacher. Her years teaching art to the students of Yuma's north end and her years guiding Yuma's art policies established her and Ray as major contributors to Yuma's art scene.

Raymond is survived by his daughters, Valerie Morrill and Deb Drysdale; his grandchildren, Shelly (Greg) Stanley, Rollin Mason (Anne-Marie Gresser), Natalie Dearing (Chris Young), Lillian Morrill (Zib Jacobs), and Samuel Morrill (Laura Roberts); his 5 great grandchildren; his nephew Leroy Drysdale; his niece Jennifer McCullough; his Bruner and Gaddy cousins; the honorary Daughters of Drysdale, Carmen Faucon, Pat Orozco, Judi Roberson, Kit Crockett, and the cocktail waitresses at Yuma Golf and Country Club; his select favorite students (you know who you are); his close friends Hugh Clark, Thad Jennings, Bob Bernhard, and so many more; the retired teachers from Yuma High School; and his amazing caregivers at Yuma Senior Living.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Big Val Drysdale; his parents, Charles and Lillian Drysdale; his sons, Rollin and Philip Drysdale; his twin brother, Rex Drysdale; his nephew, Ron Drysdale; and best friends Ed Soergel and Bill Brennan.

Our family is overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of love for him from his former students, colleagues and friends. We wish it would be possible to send him off in grand style in person, but that is not to be in these hazardous times. He always did love a big party. If by some chance you find yourself at the Pleasure Park on the Gunnison River in Colorado, order yourself a Drysdale Mary. Its the same as a regular Bloody Mary, but it will cost you a buck more. He'd get a kick out of that.

Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun