Roy Gene Raines

Roy Gene Raines, a long-time resident of Grays Harbor, at the age of 82, passed away peacefully on March 4th, 2023.

Roy Gene Raines, a long-time resident of Grays Harbor, at the age of 82, passed away peacefully on March 4th, 2023, at The Hampton Memory Care Community in Tumwater, WA following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in Davidson, Arkansas on June 25th, 1940, to George Alfred Raines and Frances Elizabeth Raines. They later moved to Montesano, WA where Roy grew up with his brothers Jerry, George, Carl, Harold, Kenny, and sister Fleeta. Roy graduated from Montesano High School in 1958 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2015, as a member of their 1957 Championship Football team.

His first marriage brought the birth of his son Roy Jr. and although the relationship ended with his spouse, he reconnected with his son several years later.

He married the love of his life, Jerry Bolinger in April of 1965, and lived at Camp Grisdale logging village where they welcomed their first child. After adding two more children, they moved to Aberdeen, WA in 1973, where they lived until 1988. Roy is the father of one daughter and three sons, Roy Jr., Keith, Shannon and Shaun Raines.

A hard-working father who literally sacrificed his body to protect and provide for his wife and children, he was a strong man with a big heart. Following his father into the logging industry, Roy became a supremely skilled logger who never met a tree he couldn’t fall.

Even though it came with some life-threatening injuries, he loved the timber industry. Roy worked for ITT Rayonier and the Simpson Timber Company before starting his own logging businesses in the 1980’s. Up until his last days, sharing pictures and stories about his logging career was one of his favorite things to talk about.

After logging injuries forced his retirement, Roy and Jerry moved to Sun City, AZ, where they made wonderful friendships and enjoyed serving their community. Roy was a member of the Church of Christ in Aberdeen and Olympia, WA and in Sun City, AZ. From serving as a song leader and deacon, to providing support and encouragement to those in need or unwell, he and his wife dearly loved their church family.

During his journey with Parkinson’s, his wife was diagnosed with cancer making a move to Texas necessary, so they could be near their children for support. Following the loss of his wife in May of 2020, Roy moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be near his family in Washington.

He was the deeply loved husband of Jerry, father of Roy Jr., Keith, Shannon and Shaun and Grandpa (Papa) to 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Roy was a tough logger, with the blended strength of Popeye and Superman. His smile and laugh made a lasting impression on everyone who knew him and his love for his wife and children was unrivaled. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.

He is survived by his brothers Jerry, Carl, Kenny and David; his children Roy Jr., Keith, Shannon and Shaun; his 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Jerry (Bolinger) Raines (2020), his mother Frances, his father George, his sister Fleeta (1964), his brother George “GA”(1970) and his brother Harold (2019).

We will celebrate Roy’s life on July 22nd, 2023, at the Church of Christ in Aberdeen, WA at 2PM.