Raymond Verduin Obituary

Raymond Verduin

Raymond Verduin, of Sedro-Woolley, WA, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the age of 79.
He was born May 18, 1930, in Snoqualmie, WA. On his 50th birthday Mount St. Helens erupted, which Raymond always thought was most appropriate. Raymond grew up in the Lynden, WA, area graduating from Lynden High School in 1948. He lived most of his life in Lynnwood, WA, where he worked for the Cudahy Company in Seattle, WA.
Raymond would have been the first to admit that chickens had been his life from the day he received his first pair of Banty chickens for his fourth birthday, as a boy living on a farm on the Double Ditch Road north of Lynden.
He won his first blue ribbon at the Northwest Washington fair at the age of 11 and took over the position of Superintendent of the poultry department at the fair at the age of 18, a position he held for 20 years. During that time, the poultry show in Lynden was the second largest show in the state, one year the show totaled 935 birds.
He not only raised and showed chickens, he became a highly respected judge, judging every major show from Pomona, California to Vancouver, BC. By intensive breeding, Raymond brought back a type of chicken (Chamois Sebright) that died out in Europe during World War II for this. For this achievement, he won a Master Breeders Award from the American Poultry Association. He also developed the Frizzle Bantam for which he was asked to write the standard for perfection for the American Bantam Assoication.
In his retirement, Raymond donated much of his time working with 4-H youth giving seminars and judging shows and contests in Snohomish County.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leoda Verduin.
He is survived by his siblings, Lee and Mary Lu Verdin, of Renton, WA, Diane Frauenholtz, of Everett, Victoria and Ron Smith, of Marysville, WA, Noel Verduin, of Blaine WA, and Marcia Verduin, of Bellingham, WA; also many nieces and nephews.
Cremation arrangements under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Raymond and sign the online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald (Everett) on Jul. 26, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Verduin

6 Entries

Joshua J. Simon

August 3, 2009

Every time I see a Spangled Hamburg I think of Ray. This last weekend at the Silvana Fair and again this weekend at the Stanwood Camano Fair I was talking about him and how awesome his Chocolate, Blue and Black Hamburg’s were and how he surprised many people with the Chocolate ones at a show I was at.
Our family has known Ray for many years……I think back and it was 1991 when I first met him. He has only had great things to say about me and my family. He was a fountain of knowledge and a man of lots of experience in the fancy and life. He was a man with many great words when it came to birds. I can remember many great conversations with him about my ducks, chickens and pigeons. Especially my Pekins that he loved and thought were the best on the planet. He made sure and encouraged me on all the various breeds I raised, especially my waterfowl. He judged at Monroe Fair in the open and 4-H for many years, in fact all the years I was in 4-H that I recall. He had a huge impact on the bird fancy in Snohomish County.
I remember all the great stories he told about raising birds in the old days and the huge shows and small ones. When he was actively judging at the open shows he was known as one of the best judges on the West Coast. He always said I would make a great judge as I know I have shown in my judging. He taught me many things that I still use today in my life. I plan to get my APA/ABA license in the near future and I credit lots of that drive to him. He always said I could judge under him anytime (which I did a couple).
Many great people have passed and Ray is definitely one of those wonderful people that has made a huge impact on kids, adults, his community, his country, the fancy of birds and me!! All my Love goes with you to heaven……..

Tom Durgin

August 2, 2009

Ray was a friend for almost 50 years. He knew poultry as a breeder and excelled in everything he put his mind to. He was "top-cabin" and am pleased to have been a poultry friend of his.

Morris

July 31, 2009

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy. May you find comfort in the unique memories shared with Ray. And may his example of courage in life guide you each day.(Psalms 31:24)

Peter Wilson

July 27, 2009

Ray seemed to be one of those gentlemen any young person can immediately trust and deeply respect. It must have been his kindness, as well as his honesty and integrity. When helping out young poultry-raisers like myself, he would speak the truth plainly (whether flattering or not!), but did so with a wonderful, assuring twinkle in his eye. It is hard to believe he is gone. I'll miss him!

Gretchen Wilson

July 26, 2009

Ray will always hold a special place in the hearts of our family. 15 years ago, when my 10 year old son wanted to try to bring back the Bantam Buttercup breed of chicken as a 4-H project-Ray was our mainstay. We spent many hours on the phone and at his place, learning how to select the stock. My husband often stopped after work to pick up various birds or paraphenalia. I have vivid memories of him and my son loading our first BBC eggs into his beuatiful wooden incubator in his Lynnwood garage. Then touring his beloved dahliahs; and the chicken barn. He was so excited to show us some of the first "finished" Chamois Seabrights!! Other "projects" at the time were the Silkie Feathered cochin, the Chocolate Spangled Hamburg and many others. He had the best mind for genetics of anyone I have ever known and I loved to "pick it" for info. We both grew up with horses and I loved talking with him about his parents' drafters and farming and showing the big horses.He laughed at us when we were new to poultry and he saw I was treating our cocks like stallions.He always brought lovely dahlias to the Evergreen State fair Poultry barn for decorations. He gave himself much to the young poultry fanciers in Snohomish Co. The Bantam Buttercup IS still going and passed onto breeders around the country. My son who is 25, still keeps poultry and dabbles in commercial poultry operations. Just the other day when a friend asked about her new poutlry project I was stymied..... then I thought, "What would Ray do here??" Suddenly a stream of sound genetics advise came into my mind--from Ray. Thank you Ray for all you have done for us.
Love and prayers-Gretchen Wilson

mike mitchell

July 26, 2009

Ray I will sure miss you. You were a one of a kind friend. It's been 25 years since we met and it's going to be hard to say goodbye. I'll miss our monthly(sometimes weekly) chats. We always talked about this day but I never believed it would happen. I'll miss our tea together and freindly political banter. We sure had fun ribbing each other did'nt we. No I was'nt able to raise owl pigeons worth a darn, you got me on that one. Again, thanks SO much for being the great friend you were. Mike

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results