Ray was born in Eugene, Oregon. He was raised by his father Harold and stepmother Anne. Ray was the eldest of six children. Ray learned to be a hard worker at an early age. He began working with his father in the logging industry, and then as a dismantler in a wrecking yard. He later put himself through barber school and worked in the trade in Sacramento, CA. After moving his family to Orick, CA in 1967 he worked as a barber at the Requa Base in Klamath, CA then later opened his own barber shop in Orick next door to Ford’s department store. Ray also worked as a commercial salmon fisherman and a mechanic. Ray then began a new venture that would allow him to work in the woods that he loved, Northwoods Evergreens. He operated his evergreen harvesting business until his retirement.  

Ray lived a colorful and adventurous life which included traveling through Oregon with The Davis Show Carnival for a year in the ‘50s, being a country western music entertainer in the ‘70s,  and traveling the country on a motorcycle with his wife, Jan. He loved playing and singing country western music, his dogs, and the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and being in the mountains. He didn’t know a stranger and was very generous. Ray was a member of the Lions Club. Ray was a collector of everything, and loved to tinker and fix things. There wasn’t anything that couldn’t be fixed with bailing wire or duct tape. He will be remembered for his positive spirit, creative and humorous stories that entertained and put smiles on people’s faces. He was well known by the kids of Orick for his sourdough pancakes, being scout master for Cub Scout Pack 35, and creating jobs for them with tube worm harvesting.  A special memory from Jan, Ray’s wife: Ray never knew a stranger, he came into my life with great love and compassion for me and my children. He was a generous helpful mate in a long happy marriage. He will always live in my heart as a Mountain of a Man.

He is survived by his loving wife Jan Thuemler; children: Kevin, Angel, Melody, Marika, Kimberlie, Delinda, Vaylen,Teresa, and Ray Aaron; grandchildren, Korbin, Makenna, Camryn, Blake, Amber, Bryan, Crystal, Rebecca, Amelia, Bradley, Melissa, Natasha, Roger, Elizabeth, Brandy, Andrew, Travis, Delaina, Joshua, and 26 great-granchildren;  his sisters Roberta and Rosemary, brothers Ronald and David all of Oregon

Ray is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Anne; his sister Nancy; sons, Kim and Bradford; daughter Wanda, and grandson Vince.