Albert Ray Walker

Albert Ray Walker was born Jan. 15, 1942 in Rawlins to Leonard Albert and Geraldine Ida (Ashley) Walker, his grandparents being Bert and Madeline Walker, of Saratoga, and Carl and Ida Ashley, of Encampment. He was raised on his parent’s ranch, the Freeland Cattle Company, on Pass Creek and attended grade school and high school in Saratoga.

While in school he was active in 4-H, FFA, sports and high school rodeo. After attending the University of Arizona for a year, Ray moved to California where he met his future wife, the former Mary Kay Walton.

They were married in Las Vegas on June 3, 1961. Ray graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Calif., with a degree in animal husbandry. He went to work teaching adult vocational classes in Owyhee and Schurz, Nev., then as a county agent in Pine Bluffs, Wyo.

He went back to the University of Wyoming in Laramie to finish his teaching degree then taught vo-ag in Wells, Nev., where his FFA chapter won numerous local, state and regional awards and was consistently the leading chapter in the state.

He left teaching to manage a cow/calf operation in central Oregon where he and his wife, Mary Kay, raised their family in beautiful mountain country with lots of prime hunting and fishing. Rodeo was his first love and he was on the rodeo teams at Casper Junior College, Cal Poly and Laramie and roped calves and team roped for years in the Pacific Northwest winning many buckles and saddles.

After 25 years on the ranch Ray and Mary Kay bought a bar and restaurant in Prineville, Ore., which occupied them full-time.

After selling the bar they retired and moved to Redmond, Ore., then to a small acreage in Kennewick, Wash., where they have lived for the past 10 years.

Ray remained active in team roping until a year ago when his health forced him to stop. He loved his horse and took great pleasure in taking care of him every day even when he couldn’t ride anymore.

Ray passed away Jan. 21, 2013 at his home in the care of his family. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Kay; daughter and son-in-law Dee and Randy Maynard and grandson Jaret of Kennewick: daughter and son-in-law Natalie and John Garside, grandson Johnny and granddaughter Sabrena all of Stringtown, Okla.; sister Mary Kay Walker of Reno, Nev., nephew Marty Howard of Las Vegas and niece Julie Howard, of Beverly Hills, Calif. He was preceded in death by grandson Justin Garside and his parents Len and Gerry Walker. Per his wishes his ashes will be scattered and no service is planned.