PAUL RAY KRAUS

PAUL RAY KRAUS Hillcrest Memorial Center Paul Ray Kraus returned to his Heavenly Father and was reunited with family and friends that had gone before on Friday, February 2, 2018 after complications from emergency surgery. Paul was born in Salt Lake City, UT on Dec. 23, 1934 to Emil and Esther Olson Kraus, the eighth of eleven children. He started school in Butte, MT and in 1943 the family moved to Richland, WA. He graduated from Columbia High (Richland) in 1952. After graduating, Paul joined the army and served in Germany. He then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern Mexico, where he became fluent in Spanish. Because of his love of the Spanish language, at Brigham Young University he majored in Spanish and minored in Safe Driving, becoming a teacher. While in his final year of college, he started dating and fell in love with Donna Guymon. They were married December 20, 1962 in the Logan Utah Temple. He began his teaching career in Kennewick eventually settling at Kamiakin High School. After teaching 34 years he retired, but soon accepted a part time position at Chief Jo in Richland for another five years. In retirement, he also volunteered for Team Read. Paul and Donna were blessed with six children; Jennifer Kraus, Darcy (Kevin Haynes), Emily (Kevin Fuhr), Nathan (Mara Floyd Kraus), Christian (Carolyn Entrop Kraus), and Sara Kraus (Justin Turner). They have seven granddaughters, eight grandsons and one great-granddaughter. He was a faithful member of his church, serving in many callings; Bishop, Bishop's Counselor, Temple Worker, and he and Donna served a mission at the Bishop's Storehouse. He was also an avid BYU supporter, loved basketball, reading, music (especially Jazz), watching his family's sporting events, and tolerated his wife's love of camping. Paul is survived by his wife, children, brother Robert Kraus; sisters, Doris Splattstoesser, Nona Shoemaker, Mary (Wayne Lewis), Collen Robinson, Irene (Bill Rittenhouse) and hundreds of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four older sisters and an infant grandson. A celebration of his life will be held at the LDS building at 515 S. Union St. Kennewick, WA, Saturday, February 10th at 12:00pm. In Lieu of flowers, and because of his love of reading, we are asking for donations of books (suitable for Kindergarten-2nd grade) (new or used) to be brought to the celebration which will be presented to Kennewick Schools. Also, donations may be made to his favorite charity, SMILE TRAIN at my.smiletrain.org/donate For online condolences, please visit www.AskHillcrest.com.