Former Hoquiam resident Ray M. Burke of Olympia passed from this earthly life to his new home in Heaven on Dec. 18, 2020. He died at Fieldstone Memory Care, where he had resided for the past two years.
Ray was born to Oscar and Ina Burke in Aberdeen, Washington, on Oct. 2, 1928. He shared a lifetime of notoriety and is survived by his identical twin brother, Roy, of Seattle. Ray and Roy were blessed to celebrate their 92nd birthday in October.
Ray graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1946. He married Phyllis Jean Cummings in Hoquiam on Oct. 1, 1950. Following graduation he began his career with the United States Postal Service and served until his retirement in 1983.
Ray and Phyllis also owned and operated Burke’s Beachway Service, a popular west Hoquiam neighborhood store and gas station.
Following his retirement, the Burkes began some of their richest life experiences when they served as volunteer host and hostess at the Cebu Missionary Home in the Philippine Islands and helpers at the Children’s Shelter of Cebu. While living in the Philippines, the Burkes enjoyed traveling to China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
In 1990, the Burke’s returned to the states and chose Olympia as their home. They spent the next 25 years traveling, volunteering, gardening and serving at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia.
In October of this year Ray and Phyllis celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Ray is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Olympia; daughters Denise of Hoquiam and Karen of Gold Canyon, Arizona; and son Ron and his wife Susie of Roseville, Minnesota. Ray is also a very proud grandpa to Shane (Stacy) Roberts of Florence, Arizona; Joel (Nicole) Eaton of Olympia; and Joshua and Andrew Burke of Minneapolis. Shane and Joel helped him add the title of great-grandpa with the addition of Triston and Teagan of Arizona and Jacob, Lianna, Chelsea, Jackson and Cole of Olympia. In 1977, the Burkes hosted Jorn Pedersen, an AFS student from Denmark and have continued their relationship with him since.
Ray was preceded in death by his mother, Ina, and sister, Eleanor Burke Hawksworth. He is also survived by numerous relatives, including more than 40 nieces and nephews.
