Raymond Vela Garcia passed away Sunday Sept. 3d at the age of 87 with his family by his side. The sunset Sunday evening was beautiful, a fitting farewell to a life so richly lived. Ray as he was known to friends and family was born in Houston Texas and migrated to the Northwest in the early 1940s. He soon found a job at the bag factory in the Camas paper mill, where he worked loyally for 36 years. Ray was always generous with his love and laughter and all who had the pleasure of his company felt wiser from the encounter. He was happiest when he was near his family and survived by his 2 sons with Mary Garcia, Richard and Greg and his grandchildren Ricky, Aaron, Raymond and Mindy- who he never tired of spending time with. He enjoyed a simple but full life of fishing, camping, hunting, traveling and his only vice, the occasional bet at the dog races. And though he may have received a very simple education he taught us all so much about compassion, about understanding about remaining humble and his most important lesson of all (which is what I heard every time I left his side) "to go slow." He will be deeply missed and never forgotten. A graveside service will be Friday, September 8th at 2:00 pm at Washougal Cemetery. Donations can be made to any Goodwill Center in Ray's memory. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.