Ray Arthur Lam was born on Oct. 15, 1922, at his home, a little house on Monkey Hill Road in Oak Harbor. This was before their new bigger house was built across the street.

He was the sixth of eight children. His family were farmers, raising a garden and milking cows. He entered into rest with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Feb. 4, 2007.

He met Frances McCormick at a dance in 1944 or 45 and they were married on Oct. 11, 1946. She worked for a dentist and Ray worked for a chicken farmer on what is now Section Street.

Their oldest daughter, Rebecca Rae, was born in June of 1948 and they moved to Oak Harbor, living with his oldest brother in a house with no plumbing or bathroom.

Around 1952, after his father passed away, they moved in with his invalid mother. Ray worked on the farm and at Columbia Valley Lumber on Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor. He worked at a log pole business and finally at Paul Bunyan Lumber until his retirement in about 1982. After almost 20 years, they moved to Burlington in 2001.

Ray is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Frances Ruth Lam; daughters Rebecca Bird and her husband John of Friday Harbor and Ruth Barth and her husband Phillip of Mount Vernon; sons Robert Lam and his wife Kathy of Wenatchee, Steven Lam and his companion Honey Jones of Oak Harbor; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Albert Lam and his wife Betty of Silverton, Ore., George Lam of Oak Harbor, and sister June Vance and her husband and Jack of Oak Harbor. Ray was preceded in death by brothers, Bill and John, and sisters Minnie and Audrey.

Niche-side service for Ray will be held at the Mount Vernon Cemetery located on Fir Street in Mount Vernon. At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. The celebration of Ray’s Life will follow at 2 p.m. the same day at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 2015 East Blackburn Road, Mount Vernon. The Rev. Dr. Mark Johnson will be officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Affordable Burial & Cremation Services, LLC of Mount Vernon. Cards of condolence may be sent to the family in care of the funeral home.