Ray J. GRIMES

January 15, 1947 - May 8, 2023

Our husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle passed away in the early afternoon on May 8, 2023, with his wife, son, and daughter by his side easing his journey.

Ray was diagnosed a year ago with Stage 4 terminal cancer. He was determined to fight this cancer until his last breath. He didn't let it get him down. Ray's care team at Summit Cancer Center had a plan that gave him another Thanksgiving and Christmas with us, for which we are eternally grateful. Unfortunately in the spring, he developed congestive heart failure and two terminal diagnoses were too much for him to fight his heart and lungs lost the battle. Sadly his breathing slowed and ceased.

Ray was born in Coulee Dam, WA, on January 15, 1947, to Levi and Beatrice (Heathershaw) Grimes who both preceded him in death. He is also preceded in death by his brother Lee Grimes and his grandson Evan R. Olson.

He grew up in Coulee Dam riding his bike on the top of the dam and playing tennis with his sister Trudy Seeley, who resides in San Diego. Ray spent a lot of time with his parents hunting deer to help stock the freezer.

After graduating from high school he attended E.W.S.U. Most of his college friends would say he majored in pinochle but his degrees were actually in sociology and social work.

His ROTC experience in college prepared him to join the U.S. Army as an officer and was sent to Hopewell, VA. He then flew to Walla Walla on a brief furlough in Dec 1970 and married his college sweetie Cindy (Peterson) Grimes. They both flew back to Hopewell and then on to Pirmasens, Germany where he worked as a Supply Maintenance Officer, and then after a few years, transferred to Mannheim, Germany where he served as a Race Relations Officer. They returned stateside to Savannah, Il, and decided to try civilian life. They packed up their small car with their belongings, one new baby boy, 2 cocker spaniels and headed to Walla Walla.

Ray enjoyed hunting, fishing, Shock and EWU football games, and going to Friday night auctions at Premier Auction in Post Falls. His greatest love was competition shooting in college and on Monday nights at Sharp Shooting Range. When he was no longer able to shoot, he was ready to give up his fight.

Ray is survived by his spouse Cindy, 52 years of marriage, his son Jason Grimes, wife Jessica, and loving grandson Jake of Kirkland, WA, his daughter Nikki (Grimes) Penna, husband Justin, and loving grandson Grady of Valleyford, WA, Ray's sister Trudy Seeley of San Diego, CA and niece Sara Wolfe of Walla Walla.

A private burial of ashes will occur at a later date. The family would like to thank Summit Cancer Center and Dr. K and his team, and the CCU at Multicare Valley Hospital (Matt especially) that got us through a really hard time. We miss you already Dad.