Raymond Charles “Ray” Reuble passed away peacefully on Oct. 28, 2013 after a brief battle with heart disease.
He was born on Sept. 18, 1933 in Coupeville, Wash. to Gus and Marie (Tesch) Reuble.
He graduated from Coupeville High School, class of 1952, and then became an International Farm Exchange student to New Zealand for nine months.
He returned to the U.S. via a trip through Europe and then home on the Queen Mary.
Following his time abroad, he attended Walla Walla College.
Ray married the love of his life, Dora Mehrer, on May 6, 1962 in Grandview, Wash. They settled on the family farm in Coupeville, Wash. and started their family.
In 1971, other opportunities led them to relocate in Burlington, Wash., where Ray and Dora both began life long careers working at All West Select Sire. Ray was always active in his community, both in Coupeville and in Burlington.
He was a board member of both the Coupeville School Board and the Island County Fair, as well as a member of the Lions Club and a Rotarian.
Ray was also an avid 4-H supporter, participating as both a member and a leader for over 40 years.
His involvement in the dairy industry led him to be a member of the Washington Holstein Association garnering him the title of “Mr. Holstien.”
Ray retired from the dairy industry in 2003, allowing him to spend more time in the garden, and traveling with the family he loved.
Ray had a beautiful lead voice and loved to sing barbershop. His passion for this music and the people he met through his involvement in the Barbershop Harmony Society gave him years of enjoyment.
He made life-long friends and created wonderful memories with his family in the over the 45 years he was involved.
Ray is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Dora Reuble, of Burlington; his daughter Tammy Reuble, of Mount Vernon; his daughter Pam Harvey, son-in-law John Harvey, granddaughter Carson and grandson Cooper, all of Edmonds; his older brother Karl (Sandy) Reuble of Bellingham; his younger brother Jerry Reuble of Mount Vernon; his brothers-in-law Morris (Dawn) Mehrer of Issaquah: Don (Shirley) Mehrer of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Burlington located at 800 Peacock Lane, Burlington, Wash.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ray’s honor to the An-O-Chords Youth Outreach c/o Murray Aston, 1395 West Beach Road, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 for the purpose of keeping America’s youth singing. Please share your thoughts of Ray and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com
Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home Mount Vernon, Wash.
