Ray Pinion

Ray Pinion, 74, passed away on January 15, 2020, at home in Napavine. Ray was born on January 4, 1946, in Kentucky. Ray was the oldest of 9 children, born to Okey and Hazel (May) Pinion. The family moved between Ohio and Florida through the years. Ray quit school to help support the family and that is where his strong work ethic began. In 1968 he met the love of his life, Eileen, in Florida. They were married in May 1969 in Florida. In 1970 they moved back to Washington to raise their 4 children. In the mid 70’s Ray’s youngest sibling moved to Washington to live with her big brother. Ray worked for Weyerhaeuser for 28 years before retiring in 1996. Ray then became a truck driver hauling mobile homes before driving long haul for Lund Trucking until retiring again. Ray had many interests over the years, many of which revolved around cars. He spent a lot of time in his garage working on cars, everything from mechanic to painting. Ray was very meticulous when it came to painting a car, if there was a run in the paint, he would find it. As his children got older, he and his friend Vern Delaney began racing derby cars and the girls would race powder puff with them. He also built a race car from the ground up and raced it a few times out at South Sound Speedway. Ray also enjoyed going to Reno, his game of choice was Keno. Although he did like to play slots too and if you couldn’t find him just listen for “7,7, ah son of a b&*^%”. Bowling was another pastime that Ray enjoyed doing with his wife Eileen and other friends over the years. Ray is survived by his wife Eileen; his beloved trucking dog Rosie; his daughters Wendy (Karrie) Pinion, Vickie (Kenith) Gerrits, and Mindy Crosby; and his son Wes Pinion; grandchildren Kristopher (Marissa) Gerrits, Dalten, Cody, and Breanna Crosby, Stasha and Ethan Pinion, and Lindsey & Landon Pinion and sisters, Vickie ( Mike) Escue, Ruby (John) Gilleon, Margaret Cartwright, and Emma Pinion. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Tony Pinion, Okey Pinion, Ricky Pinion, sister Kay Peninger, granddaughter Kaylyne Gerrits, and father and mother in law Lawrence and Rosa Roe.

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