I met Ray following Thanksgiving weekend of 1987, after the tires on my car went flat when a friend drove my car onto their lawn covered with branches and debris blown down in a storm. Ray was managing a tire dealership in Oregon City, a town south of Portland, Oregon. A mutual friend drove me down to meet him and make arrangements for new tires. When I first met him I almost did a double take as he reminded me of a special friend I'd known about a dozen years before. Ray showed me an article that had been written about him a while back, referring to Ray as an "Outlaw Biker" who replaced the tires on police cars in Clackamas County. He was an amiable guy and we hit it off well. I saw him again when we rode together to a rally in Salem regarding proposed changes in the state's helmet law. I also got to meet his wife who was a licensed body piercer. When I decided to get my ears pierced again a few months later, I went to her as she did a great job, making sure everything was sterile, something that was very important in getting any piercing done. I enjoyed their company and we got together frequently until they divorced. I lost contact with him for a time until we ran into each other downtown one afternoon. He was making plans for his retirement, planning on driving thru out the United States, seeing our nation, as soon as his Social Security Retirement benefits went into effect on March 3rd, 2003, the month of his 64th birthday. He'd been planning this for quite some time, had bought a truck similar to those used to deliver milk door to door in past decades. The truck had been modified so he could cook meals, refrigerate food, shower, etc. and sleep in it at night. He'd been taping a great blues program that ran on Sunday nights on KINK FM radio, 101.9 on the dial. He'd parked behind my house for the time being and we'd share meals and visit, watching TV or listening to music in the evenings. I enjoyed his company, sharing memories and reminiscing. He and I were sitting in my living room, just kicking back and visiting while our friend, Don, played a game of pool on my computer on February 24th, 2003. It was getting kind of late and Ray was getting ready to call it a night and go sleep in his truck when he suddenly stood up, gave me a rather surprised look, then sat down in the chair and died. I'd never seen anyone die before but I knew he was no longer among the living. I yelled for Don, who rushed in and laid Ray on the floor as I called 911. There was nothing we could do...one of my best friends was "gone". The paramedics tried all they could but to no avail. I was very upset, crying quietly while I said my farewells to a special man I'd known for 15 years. Ray was cremated and his remains put into metal tubes covered with black and purple leather. Those who had bikes attached them onto their bikes so Ray could keep riding, in a way, in the wind. I miss my special friend, sometimes more than others. I'd lost my mom just 2 months prior to Ray's passing and lost two more friends before 2003 ended. I know Ray is riding in Heaven where the weather is always perfect, sunny with a nice breeze or under the stars at night. Miss you, my friend.
Kathie L. Webb Blair
24 April 2015
Updated information: I have found records about Ray thru SSA that state he was born in Burbank, Los Angeles Co., CA., not Idaho. He was apparently living in Idaho in 1955 when he applied for and was issued his Social Security Number. His parents are listed as Oral T. Butler and Cora B. Snoderly, neither of whom I've been able to find in the Find A Grave system as of July, 2016. He was married more than once; his first wife is Phyllis Ann Gempler (b.1939 in Minnesota) whom he married in 1958 in Los Angeles Co., CA. They later divorced; his 2nd wife is Ahna Edwards, an expert body piercer in the Portland, Oregon area.
Thank you to Find a Grave as his parents have now been included in this site and I've added them to Ray's memorial as of June 13, 2020.
July 19, 2016
April 23, 2020
Thank you to Suzanne Roach for information regarding his 1st marriage.
Kathie L. Webb Blair
24 April 2015
Updated information: I have found records about Ray thru SSA that state he was born in Burbank, Los Angeles Co., CA., not Idaho. He was apparently living in Idaho in 1955 when he applied for and was issued his Social Security Number. His parents are listed as Oral T. Butler and Cora B. Snoderly, neither of whom I've been able to find in the Find A Grave system as of July, 2016. He was married more than once; his first wife is Phyllis Ann Gempler (b.1939 in Minnesota) whom he married in 1958 in Los Angeles Co., CA. They later divorced; his 2nd wife is Ahna Edwards, an expert body piercer in the Portland, Oregon area.
Thank you to Find a Grave as his parents have now been included in this site and I've added them to Ray's memorial as of June 13, 2020.
July 19, 2016
April 23, 2020
Thank you to Suzanne Roach for information regarding his 1st marriage.
I met Ray following Thanksgiving weekend of 1987, after the tires on my car went flat when a friend drove my car onto their lawn covered with branches and debris blown down in a storm. Ray was managing a tire dealership in Oregon City, a town south of Portland, Oregon. A mutual friend drove me down to meet him and make arrangements for new tires. When I first met him I almost did a double take as he reminded me of a special friend I'd known about a dozen years before. Ray showed me an article that had been written about him a while back, referring to Ray as an "Outlaw Biker" who replaced the tires on police cars in Clackamas County. He was an amiable guy and we hit it off well. I saw him again when we rode together to a rally in Salem regarding proposed changes in the state's helmet law. I also got to meet his wife who was a licensed body piercer. When I decided to get my ears pierced again a few months later, I went to her as she did a great job, making sure everything was sterile, something that was very important in getting any piercing done. I enjoyed their company and we got together frequently until they divorced. I lost contact with him for a time until we ran into each other downtown one afternoon. He was making plans for his retirement, planning on driving thru out the United States, seeing our nation, as soon as his Social Security Retirement benefits went into effect on March 3rd, 2003, the month of his 64th birthday. He'd been planning this for quite some time, had bought a truck similar to those used to deliver milk door to door in past decades. The truck had been modified so he could cook meals, refrigerate food, shower, etc. and sleep in it at night. He'd been taping a great blues program that ran on Sunday nights on KINK FM radio, 101.9 on the dial. He'd parked behind my house for the time being and we'd share meals and visit, watching TV or listening to music in the evenings. I enjoyed his company, sharing memories and reminiscing. He and I were sitting in my living room, just kicking back and visiting while our friend, Don, played a game of pool on my computer on February 24th, 2003. It was getting kind of late and Ray was getting ready to call it a night and go sleep in his truck when he suddenly stood up, gave me a rather surprised look, then sat down in the chair and died. I'd never seen anyone die before but I knew he was no longer among the living. I yelled for Don, who rushed in and laid Ray on the floor as I called 911. There was nothing we could do...one of my best friends was "gone". The paramedics tried all they could but to no avail. I was very upset, crying quietly while I said my farewells to a special man I'd known for 15 years. Ray was cremated and his remains put into metal tubes covered with black and purple leather. Those who had bikes attached them onto their bikes so Ray could keep riding, in a way, in the wind. I miss my special friend, sometimes more than others. I'd lost my mom just 2 months prior to Ray's passing and lost two more friends before 2003 ended. I know Ray is riding in Heaven where the weather is always perfect, sunny with a nice breeze or under the stars at night. Miss you, my friend.
Kathie L. Webb Blair
24 April 2015
Updated information: I have found records about Ray thru SSA that state he was born in Burbank, Los Angeles Co., CA., not Idaho. He was apparently living in Idaho in 1955 when he applied for and was issued his Social Security Number. His parents are listed as Oral T. Butler and Cora B. Snoderly, neither of whom I've been able to find in the Find A Grave system as of July, 2016. He was married more than once; his first wife is Phyllis Ann Gempler (b.1939 in Minnesota) whom he married in 1958 in Los Angeles Co., CA. They later divorced; his 2nd wife is Ahna Edwards, an expert body piercer in the Portland, Oregon area.
Thank you to Find a Grave as his parents have now been included in this site and I've added them to Ray's memorial as of June 13, 2020.
July 19, 2016
April 23, 2020
Thank you to Suzanne Roach for information regarding his 1st marriage.
Kathie L. Webb Blair
24 April 2015
Updated information: I have found records about Ray thru SSA that state he was born in Burbank, Los Angeles Co., CA., not Idaho. He was apparently living in Idaho in 1955 when he applied for and was issued his Social Security Number. His parents are listed as Oral T. Butler and Cora B. Snoderly, neither of whom I've been able to find in the Find A Grave system as of July, 2016. He was married more than once; his first wife is Phyllis Ann Gempler (b.1939 in Minnesota) whom he married in 1958 in Los Angeles Co., CA. They later divorced; his 2nd wife is Ahna Edwards, an expert body piercer in the Portland, Oregon area.
Thank you to Find a Grave as his parents have now been included in this site and I've added them to Ray's memorial as of June 13, 2020.
July 19, 2016
April 23, 2020
Thank you to Suzanne Roach for information regarding his 1st marriage.
