Ray Cline of Fortuna passed peacefully at home on April 28, 2023, at the age of 97.

Ray was one of 10 siblings born in West Virginia to Lonnie Ballard and Bertha Cline.

Ray was a WWII Veteran serving his country on the U.S. Navy’s Biddle DD151 destroyer. While on leave from the Navy he married the love of his life, (Iris) Fern Cline. After his discharge from the military, they moved and settled in Humboldt County in 1946. Shortly thereafter, they added four children to their family: Lonnie, Michael, Mary (Susie) and David.

Dad was a man that could do most anything. He was most proud of the house that he built for his family. Most of his career was spent working in the woods as a logger and in many of the sawmills of Humboldt County, retiring as a sawyer from Pacific Lumber Co.

His favorite thing to do was work around his home. It gave him so much pleasure when family and friends stopped by to visit him.

He was preceded in death by his wife Iris (Fern), his son Lonnie and eighjt of his siblings. He is survived by his sons Michael Cline, Sr., and David Cline, and his daughter Mary (Susie) Kirchman, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside memorial service that will be held at Fortuna Sunrise Cemetery on Monday, May, 15 at noon. Following the memorial service there will be a gathering at the Fortuna Monday Club.

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