Obituary of Raymond Stewart Ross

Raymond Stewart Ross passed peacefully in the beautiful home he built in Yelm on April 10, 2013 at the age of 67, his sweetheart and personal hospice nurse by his side. They fought a hard five-year battle with multiple myeloma cancer together. Ray was born on September 12, 1945, to Walter and Mildred Ross in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Fife High School. He began working before he was out of school as a mechanic and auto body repairman and soon learned to drive big trucks so he could deliver travel trailers for his dad’s local business. Eventually he began long distance trucking with over a million safe miles to his credit. During this time he moved to Yelm and built his first house. In 1989, he began building a second home where he and MaryAnne were married in 1990. An on-the-job injury prompted a career change and, in 1991, Ray put his restoring, renovating, building, and fixing reputation to good use by opening R&M RV Service and Repair, Inc. He has been a successful owner and operator for over 20 years and is very proud of his work family, Mike and Brad. Ray was preceded in death by his father, Walter; and stepson, Marine SSgt Abe Twitchell. He is survived by his mother, Mildred; his wife, MaryAnne; his son and best friend, Christopher (Janel); daughters, LaRae (Stacie), and LaRetta (Chris); his band of three brothers, Denny, Darrell and Rod; two sisters, Corrine and Trish; grandsons, Austin, Cooper, Cannon, and Colson; granddaughters, Andee and Maddi; stepdaughter, Jeanne and stepdaughter-in-law, Stephanie; stepson, Jim (Jenn); stepgrandaughter, Makenzy; and stepgrandsons, Michael, Brandon, Zack and Zane. He loved all kinds of boating activities, RVing, flying his Stitz Playmate and Cessna 172, watching/talking NASCAR, restoring old cars, guitar picking, being with family and friends, and bon fires. He had terrific stories to tell about the members of the exclusive Yelm Yacht Club, the Pha-ca-wees, with great memories of cruising the San Juan Islands and shrimping at Pleasant Harbor. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Providence St Peter Hospice Foundation:http://washington.providence.org/donate/st-peter-foundation/donate/. Please leave memories of Ray or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below. View Archived Guestbook Archived Keepsake Page