Raymond Victor Alexander

Raymond Victor Alexander was born in Duncan, OK on December 2, 1927 to his loving parents, Elizabeth and Milton Alexander. He was the oldest child and had one sister, Mary Sue and three brothers, Jim, Harvey Dean and Clyde, that he shared his childhood with. Ray started school in Amber OK and then the family moved to Meridian OK when he was in third grade and he graduated from Meridian High School in 1946. He, and his best friend James Holder, joined the U.S. Navy after graduation and served for two years.

Ray was a farm boy who loved to play basketball and was quite good at it. After his military service he, and best friend James, decided to go to college and play basketball. That didn't work out too well for his academic studies so he quit school and started working. He tried farming on the family farm, milk deliveryman, and working in a lumber yard, to name a few. He also found time to meet, fall in love and marry, Valoise Jean Freeman, from Bradley, OK. They were married August 10, 1950 in Chickasha OK and had two children, Pam (born 1951) and Greg (born 1954).

After a few years, Ray began thinking that working in a lumber yard wasn't providing the fulfillment and happiness that he wanted for himself and his family, so in 1958, with the encouragement of his parents and the promise of a place to live until he could get an apartment for his family, he packed up all his worldly possessions and his wife and two children and moved to Gunnison, CO to attend Western State College. He attended classes and studied during the day and then would go to work as a police dispatcher on the 5pm to midnight shift. He worked very hard and in 1960 he graduated with a B.A. degree in Industrial Arts and a teaching credential. He then moved his family to Potter Valley, CA where he started his high school teaching career. He continued his education during several summers and received a M.A. degree in Education. After a few years he transferred to Ukiah High School in Ukiah, CA and enjoyed a very long, successful teaching career.

In 1972, Ray's wife, Jean, died from a two year struggle with breast cancer. Fortunately for Ray, a member of his church and good friend, Ron Richey introduced Ray to his Aunt Vi at a church picnic in the summer of 1973 and soon there were wedding bells ringing. On December 29, 1973, Ray married Viva Lee Hickey from Armona, CA and happily began sharing his life with a larger family which included Vi's daughter, Sharon Amos, her husband Gus Amos, and their two children, Andy and Katie and Vi's daughter, Mickie Freitas, her husband Rick Freitas, and their two children, Jamie and Casey. The family continued to grow as Ray's son, Greg, presented him with his grandson, Jason, and daughter Pam and her husband Sam had grandson, Bryan. Granddaughter Katie had great grandchildren, Gage and Payton; Grandson Casey and his wife, Amy, had great granddaughters Ava and Harlan and Grandson Jason and his wife, Monique, had great granddaughter Cali. And last but not least granddaughter Jamie Freitas married Bryan DeRose and Ray was very happy to welcome him to the family.

Ray and Vi lived in Ukiah until Ray retired from teaching in 1984. They moved to Armona to enjoy their retirement closer to their children and grandchildren. Ray loved building cabinets, remodeling homes, making toys for his grandkids, spending time with his ever-growing family, being active in his church, etc. and that is how he spent many years of his so-called "retirement". Ray and Vi shared 31 years together until she passed away in January 2004.

One thing that can be said about Ray was that he was "lucky in love". At the age of 77, recently widowed, but a healthy and active person, he was facing the prospect of many years alone (he had two grandmothers who lived to be 95 and 99). However, another opportunity for happiness came when he met Loretta Bates from Armona, CA and they were married on October 15, 2005. The family grew larger, once again, as Ray was welcomed into the Bates family which included Loretta's three sons, their wives, and children: E.G. & Reba Bates of Hanford and their children, Kathy, Diane and Scott; Ron & Larraine Bates and Ron's daughter, Ronda; Earl & Lea Bates and their son Adam. This family also includes eight great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Ray and Loretta had nine happy years together, enjoying their families, their churches, their friends, and, most importantly, enjoying their precious time together.

Ray was also very fortunate to still have all of his siblings living and part of his life. Mary Sue Wright (84) of Okmulgee, OK, Jim Alexander (82) of Piscataway, NJ, Harvey Dean Alexander (80) and his wife, Joyce, of Nicoma Park, OK, and Clyde Alexander (78) and his wife, La Veta, of Greenville, CA all dearly loved and respected their "big" brother, Ray. (He was the oldest, but not the tallest)

The legacy that Raymond Victor Alexander leaves to this world is captured in a brief comment that his family has heard repeated over and over, "he was the nicest man I think I ever met." Certainly, Ray was a very nice guy. But, more importantly, most everyone who knew Ray well enough to make that comment, also knew from where that "niceness" came. Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young man and he spent the rest of his life living what he thought was a good example of a dedicated, committed servant of God. He did it simply, (The Golden Rule), quietly, (a man of few words), but with great strength and influence in the lives of the people that had the pleasure of knowing him. Needless to say, he will be greatly missed by those who knew him and loved him and the world now has a huge void of "niceness" that he has left for us to fill.