Raymond Earnest Clarno was born in Walla Walla, Washington December 9,1929 to parents John Harold Clarno and Genevieve Adams Clarno. Ray passed away in Redmond on January 1, 2025, at the age of 95 with family by his side. Ray attended grade school in Dayton, WA. and graduated from high school in Myrtle Point, OR, where he was right half back on the Times All Star football Team.
Ray attended Oregon State College as a member of the S.A.E. Fraternity, where he received two degrees, a BS in Agriculture and one in Business. Ray and Lila Mae Laird were married in 1950. Their children are Brad (Karen)Bend, Barry (Margaret) Gig Harbor WA, Mike (Lorraine) Columbia Falls MT, Murray (Donna) Spanaway WA, Pegi Couch (Wil) Puyallup, WA.
After college Ray joined Carnation Company, working in numerous locations in Washington, Oregon, and finally as Executive vice President of the milling division at world headquarters in Los Angeles, California where he traveled extensively.
In 1983 Ray married Beverly Boice Hilderbrand and gained 4 stepchildren Dan Oceanside CA, Don Wasco OR, Randy (Sylvia)Wasco OR, Cindi Henley Redmond OR.
After retirement Ray realized his lifelong dream of owning a cattle ranch in Central Oregon. He imported his breeding stock from the Midwest and built a herd of his beloved Buelingo beef cattle. Because his cattle were black with a white belt he called them his Holy herd. He loved to ride the many miles of fence line and haul water to his cattle out to big tree basin, where he could watch the cattle as they came into drink. Ray gave up his range land to help create the Badlands Wilderness area for the public benefit.
Ray purchased the Clarno Grange in Clarno, Oregon, where he and his wife spent summers. They enjoyed sharing the history with visitors of Ray's great-great-grandfather's homesteading there in 1862.
Ray was a long-time board member of Central Electric Coop. Ray served as President of the Pacific Livestock Exposition, he also served as a member of the Oregon State Fairs Association as a Judge for county fairs.
Ray enjoyed showing Bev the many countries he visited during his career, they also traveled to Clarno Wisconsin visiting many relatives there bringing back more family history. Ray enjoyed teaching his many grandchildren and great grandchildren the joy of riding horses, feeding cows in the winter, bottle feeding bummer lambs, branding cattle, riding the range, bucking bales, setting pipe, driving the pickup and shooting coyotes.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Jean Lynch and Barabara Roush and brother Ralph. Ray is survived by his wife Beverly of 41 years, his sister Janet Barker Eugene OR, his children, his first wife, his sister's in-law Barbara Vance Gresham OR and Joanne Boice of Des Moines WA and many grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday January 25, at 1 PM, at the Redmond Community Church 237 NW 9th St. Redmond, OR.
Memorial's may be made in lieu of flowers to the Redmond Community Church at 237 NW 9th St. Redmond, OR 97756 or to the Community Presbyterian Church 237 19th St. Redmond, OR 97756.
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