On April 26th, 2025 our family lost the patriarch of the family. Raymond Dodson Smith, Jr.  was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on September 21, 1939 and lived on the East coast with his bride, Eva until 1975 when they both decided to move the family West from Connecticut to Washington State.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his only sister along with his wife Eva. His youth was spent traveling and living around the world since his dad was career Navy. He eventually settled in Connecticut after he was discharged from the Navy, that's where he met and married Eva.

After leaving Connecticut, they moved the family to Washington State, ending up settling in Sumner with 5 kids in tow, Kathy, David, Hydie, Denise and Amy. The family multiplied by leaps and bounds adding countless Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. (Way too many to list)

Ray became a truck driver for Safeway and retired after 27 years, while Eva worked as a seamstress making outerwear for various companies until she landed a job at Boeing for the remainder of her career. They then retired in Arizona for a number of years, but missed the family and returned to Eatonville where they both lived out their lives.

After 50 plus years of marriage, the love of his life passed away. To fill his time, Ray joined the family of Eagles in Eatonville, volunteering his time any way needed to help out.

Ray loved his time at the Eagles lodge helping any way he thought would make a difference. Although if he didn't want to do a certain task, there was no way to convince him otherwise. And if someone thought his task wasn't being done correctly, he was willing to give that task up to the person who thought they could do it better!

Rolling the silverware in napkins was an art as far as he was concerned. The person who had the job before (he who will remain anonymous) was definitely not doing it right according to Ray.  "You can't have the forks pointing out when you wrap, someone will poke their fingers"

A friend to many and all-around good person will greatly be missed. He taught us right from wrong and how to grow up to be independent and to be our own person. He had a tough exterior, but his heart was made of gold.

A memorial service will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 2pm.