It was my complete honor to help you & Ray & I truly don’t think I ever saw Ray without that big smile of his. I was always struck by what a great couple you are and the respect & kindness that he clearly had for you.  My heart is broken for you & your family Karen. Your friend, nanci 

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest: In the "Courtyard" at the base of the chimpanzees' outdoor habitat

Karen was sharing how Ray did not like speeding drivers, a lot.  This memory suddenly came back to me.  Back when Jeff and Nolan were very young they started to repeat some of the things they heard their dad shouting at bad drivers.  Ray knew he had to come up with a solution to stop the boys from repeating his saltier words.   Ray came up with calling bad drivers snoofy heads.   I wonder if the boys remember or use the expression snoofy head.  Missing you Ray.

I believe that this was the only time that we snow shoed together. We moved on to golf . I'll miss him.

Dinner with Ray and Karen after a round of golf

Ray and Howard... aka Statler and Waldorf

Another snowy day

WSU — with Ray Davis, Spring 1980

Dear Karen and Davis Family, we are very sorry and saddened by your sudden loss and our thoughts and prayers are with you all.  We were fortunate to have just had a very nice dinner (the Prime Rib photo) with you and Ray and Mom (Helen) a few weeks ago in Suncadia.  And we had a quick visit with Ray when he stopped by our house in Mill Creek the Friday before his surgery.  As always, he was cheerful, smiling and friendly.   Little did we know would be the last time we would see him.   However, rest assured he is looking down from the Heavens and watching over all of us.   Take care and we will see you all in May.  Love, your brother Kevin and sister-in-law Melinda.  

Ray's Perfect Hamburger

Every so often in our lives, we encounter someone who makes an indelible impact on your life. Ray was one of those folks. We didn't have the opportunity to spend much time with him. The last time we saw Ray was in 2019, when we all had a family gathering over an extended weekend at Karen and Ray's new home. There, we discovered a kind, easy-going guy with a complex, yet quirky sense of humor. He was an easy person to be around. We were looking forward to seeing Karen and Ray this June, at a family gathering when he suddenly and unexpectedly passed. Our hearts go out to Karen and Ray's family during this difficult time in her life.

Damn Ray, you went too soon. Just when you were finally improving your golf game. Actually, it was pretty much the same as it was thirty years ago - hit it hard, hit it far, where is that green anyway? Back in those Immunex olden days, before we joined forces, I used to wonder about the wise guy in CLD who seemed so irreverent about science, and many things, come to think of it. However, over the years, I was able to see the true genius of your ways – you were in it for the long haul, pacing yourself, it was about the journey not the destination. And you had the best seats on the ride. Literally, with your permanent midlife crisis hot rods, blasting classic rock. Day in and day out you chipped away at the vestiges of scientific dogma to make your own vision - a compilation of complex questions, without clear answers, but always fun, curious, and instructional. No matter where you ended, there was always the drawing board to go back to, more ideas to pursue (or trash in classic Ray style). You brought so much life to all your pursuits. Whether at work or play, it was always the same, just keep at it and try to laugh. This attitude helped me through so many challenges when we worked together at CMC Bio. Despite convention, you taught me that the customer actually could be a wrong. I just had to make sure you didn’t let the customer know. Despite the challenges, we had fun and made progress, until you left for Seagen. That was hard, but you made it possible for us to work together again. It took some convincing, but you were diligent on my behalf, and they brought me along. For that, I am forever grateful! Working with you again was the best part of the ride, for me at least. I really loved getting to work every day to find you already at your desk with something important to say. It was either a big idea or you were angry at some bad driver - I didn’t have the heart to tell you that some people really do drive the speed limit. Too many hot rods Ray! Regardless of the tenor of the day, we found middle ground and went on our merry way trying to create value for the corporation. And you so loved corporate structure, as we all know. You were always the first to let me know about your annual goals and what I could do with them – thanks for that! The journey continued right up to your retirement. I was sad when you left but so happy for you to enjoy your well-earned time with friends and loved ones. Fast driving, loud music, golfing anytime you like, unlimited time to dream big ideas, nothing to annoy you except your tee shot. You got there, Ray, and that was truly a major accomplishment. It wasn't long enough, by any measure, but you got there, in style, and I feel blessed to have been part of the journey. I will miss you, my friend, but will carry your enduring spirit with me always. Carpe Diem! Rest in peace, Howard 

Golfing with Gampa at the Par 3 — with Bode Broetje

I have a million stories that involve Ray back when I worked with him at Immunex/Amgen.  Sitting around the lunch table swapping stories was the absolute best.  That lunch table was the loudest around and we always opened it up for another chair to join,  Ray was a big reason why those lunches were so filled with laugher.   I was just chatting with Elham E about the time he came into work after he sat in (someone else's!) pee on the bus  (why are there foam seats on public transportation?) he ran out to the Bon Marche the minute they opened  to grab a change of clothes...he was so "pissed" off it was hilarious.He also loved the Lusty Lady sign on 1st Ave with all their almost NSFW puns.  Kathy M reminded me he actually made a submission one year that made it on the sign.  It was a year the Olympic torch was coming through Seattle....we think his winning  was "Let Us Light Your Torch".I miss seeing Ray on the daily.  The world lost a good one.  Much love to the family, I hold you in my heart.

Laura Radek mentioned of Ray's interesting cars.   In 1978 I was taking auto technology courses at Wenatchee Valley College.   Ray purchased a 1968 Chevy El Camino.  He got the rear quarter panel changed and had it painted black.  Then he put the biggest rear tires on baby moon wheels he could fit under the rear of that truck.   I was able to get a hold of a slightly used stock car engine for him.  One evening Ray was driving it downtown,  before we got the exhaust system on it.  A Wenatchee police officer pulled him over, and told him that he could see the flames coming out from under the truck from all the way across the Columbia river.  Ray was able to talk his way out of that ticket.   Ray had many adventures in that truck, and it was a loud beast of a truck .  Imagine the sound created by a pack of Harley Davidson motorcycles. That is the truck/car Ray and Terry drove when they first moved to Western Washington  after graduation.  Ray used to say his neighbors hated the sound of him coming and going in that incredibly loud truck.

Ray was so generous and kind. He was generous enough to tow a trailer all the way from WA to CA and back to help me move home after graduating college. Unfortunately, even though he was going the speed of surrounding traffic (70 mph), California has a 55 MPH speed limit while towing… That’s when Ray got his first and only speeding ticket. He used to proudly claim every other time he got pulled over he was able to talk his way out of it because the cop was more interested in the car he was driving. But this time he was driving my mom’s car… At least he was able to talk it down to 5 over. This is just one example of the many nice things Ray would do for others. 

I remember the first time I met Ray. Laura and I were meeting Karen and Ray at Rockin M BBQ golf range. Even though I was just a ski bum at the time, he was so incredibly nice to me and made me feel welcome from day one. Anytime we would come visit Suncadia he always welcomed us with a hug and a white claw. He took me golfing a couple of times and his pointers for my drive turned from advice on my form to “Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working for you.” It’s hard to imagine garage ping pong tournaments with Van Halen playing on an old stereo without Ray. He was an amazing person with a magnificent soul. I hope that soul ended up in a place with unlimited tee times, sunshine, bread, and white claws

Ray was usually easy going and cooperative as a child but my most vivid memories of him involved golf in his early teens at Homestead Airforce Base.

Our weekend rounds often involved just the two of us “golf fanatics.” We always teed off with grand expectations, and this euphoric state generally held until about the third tee. If we were playing as well as can be expected for a couple of duffers, everything continued as usual for the rest of our nine holes.

However, if Ray was having an off day, his round would end abruptly with him returning to the clubhouse restaurant to await me finishing my nine. How I miss those days.

For the last couple of years, our few rounds together were at Suncadia, and I was the one who wanted to storm off the course after a few bad holes, but never did. I’d give anything to be able to have more of those outings and would promise to never think of quitting – no matter how bad I was playing.

We will never forget Ray. The memories we have with him and Karen will be treasured forever - along with his kind spirit and gentle laugh. 

Hit ‘em long and straight in heaven dear Ray. Until we all meet again. ❤️