Ray Durfee
Ray Durfee
Ray Durfee

Obituary of Ray Durfee

Raymond was born in Sacramento on May 30, 1953 to John S. and Alta Durfee. On September 23, 2022 he passed peacefully at his Chico, CA home due to COPD and heart issues.

Ray’s family moved from Sacramento to Chico, CA when he was a young boy. He never moved away from Chico. He enjoyed being in a family of four boys with loving parents. He had many very entertaining (and sometimes hair-raising) stories about the brothers’ childhood horseplay.

He married Janice Rae Wild on July 1, 1972 . Because Ray had only brothers he was certain all his children would be boys. However, Ray and Janice were blessed with two lovely daughters, Carrie and Sheree. Several times Ray confessed to Janice how much he loved having his daughters. Little did he know that beloved grandsons were also in his future.

Ray’s primary job for most of his working life was as a semi-truck driver. At one time he ran his own trucking business. He drove semi-truck for various companies in Chico, the last being S & L Foods. Getting together with his trucking buddies to share their experiences was one of the highlights of his life.

Ray was very proud of his family. He loved spending time with his family and his dogs. He was also very sociable and made many, many friends. It didn’t matter if he was at an event or at the gas station. He was a people person. There were many times that Janice sent him to the grocery store for 1 item that seemed to take a long length of time. She knew he was probably chatting it up with someone at the store. Ray’s interests included hunting, fishing, camping and boating. He especially loved when his family had outings and travel trips with other family members and friends. Cabo San Lucas was always Ray’s favorite place. Recalling all of these special memories occurred quite often.

Ray is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janice; daughter Carrie Martin; daughter and her spouse Sheree Westwater (Mark); 5 Grandsons, Micah, Dax, Logan, Kai and Rashad; 3 brothers and their spouses, John H. Durfee (Alice); Karl Durfee (Karen) and Lee Durfee (Dee); unofficial brother John Lewis, as well as sister and brother-in-laws, Stacy Cullen (Rex), Kimberly Wild, Martin White (Sharon) and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by many.

 

 

 

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Saturday
15
October

Celebration of Life

2:00 pm
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Family Residence
6 Calgary Lane
Chico, California, United States
Parking: First Baptist Church's parking lot backs up to the home’s backyard fence and gate. There's lots of parking there (850 Palmetto Ave, Chico). Go to the very back of the church parking lot.
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