Raymond Strong

Our Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, Friend, Raymond Harold Strong was born on February 8, 1942 in Yakima, Washington to Caroline and Simon Strong Sr. He was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation. In his earlier years, Raymond resided with his family in the Wapato area within the boundaries of the Yakama Reservation. While growing up with four other siblings, it was noticed early on that the Strongs all held a passion for the game of baseball which would commend them individually as well as a team unit with numerous victories, recognitions, accolades and friendships that would last a lifetime. Early education from grammar school to high school is credited to the Wapato School District upon his graduating in 1960 from Wapato High School. His next stop would be Eastern Oregon University for a brief yet memorable experience before enlisting in the United States Army Corps for a term of three years. With his honorable discharge intact, a new series of lifelong events were in the making in which his own personal achievements were accomplished. Moving back briefly to the Yakama Reservation, he became employed with YN Realty where he would receive his true calling in Real Estate Services and later becoming an employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Throughout his career in Realty his work ethic would allow him to reside from the Yakama Nation Reservation to the Puget Sound County (Everett, Wa.) and later the Grays Harbor County (Aberdeen, Wa.) where he would spend the majority of his lifetime working for the BIA, Olympic Peninsula. He made his final decision in August 2007 to retire from the government and lived out the rest of his time relaxing and enjoying time with his daughters, Rhonda and Rejina Strong along with two grandchildren, Rey and Joselynn Strong. Other survivors are sister Laura Strong; nephew Brian “Bubba” Strong (Carmen & family); Chanelle “Coco” Strong-Jahr, Simon Curtis Strong “lil Sug” (James & family). He is preceded in death by his parents, Caroline and Simon Strong Sr; brother Simon “Sug” Strong Jr: Anthony “Buzz” Strong; Leroy “Sonny” Strong; and Rudy Valde. Rosary Services on Wednesday at noon at Valley Hills in Wapato following burial at Reservation Cemetery. No dinner. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond Strong, please visit our flower store.