Raymond A. 'Ray' Yaw, 89

Raymond A. "Ray" Yaw, 89, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Friday, June 29, 2007.

Family and friends are invited to a funeral service at First Lutheran Church, on Friday, July 6, at 11 a.m. and to stay for a lunch with the family. Pastor Dave Olson will officiate.

Friends may call at Coffelt Funeral service, to pay their respects, on Thursday, July 5, from noon until 6 p.m.

Ray was born in Sandpoint on Jan. 5, 1918, the son of George W. and Caroline V (Spreaton) Yaw. They moved to the farm in the Bronx area in 1919, where he helped his father dairy farm and work with draft horses. He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1935. On June 25, 1941, he married Dorothy Bowen and they were married almost 66 years. They had nine children.

He worked for Safeway, Chevron, and logged for Ivar Hedlund. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946 being stationed in Missoula, Mont., San Francisco, and India. Following the war he worked 25 years at Merwin's and then 20 years for Northern Lights as a groundsman.

Ray was a founding member of the Northside Volunteer Fire Depart-ment and an active volunteer for 40 years.

He was a member of the American Legion and First Lutheran Church.

Ray is survived by all nine children, Carol (Mike) McDowell of Sandpoint, Donald (Dianne) Yaw of Silverdale, Wash., Sharon (Ron) Roget of Sandpoint, Gale (Ruby) Yaw of Sandpoint, Mary (Leo) Addison of Sandpoint, Ray D. (Terri) of Sandpoint, Mark (Vangie) Yaw of Everett, Wash., Kaye (Kevin) Cogswell of Othello, Wash., and Rick (Gail) Yaw of Sandpoint; and 28 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. His wife, Dorothy; his brother, Kenneth; three half-brothers and a half-sister preceded him in death.

Memorials may be made to the Northside Fire Department, PO Box 181, Ponderay, Idaho.

Family and friends are invited to sign Ray's online guest book, and read his obituary, at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.