Raymond James Lawson, 80 years old, passed away on Jan. 1, 2026, quietly at his home with family by his side.

He was born on Aug. 11, 1945 in Merced, Calif., to Arlin and Ruth Lawson. At home at the time, were two older sisters, Imogene and Leveda. A few years later, his youngest sister Carol joined the family.

The Lawson family left Merced and moved to San Pablo, Calif., where Ray spent his first 30 years. During that time he married his childhood sweetheart Glenna; and raised their two children, Steve and Charlotte.

Ray also started his career as a welder/fabricator that would last his entire lifetime. During the years, he also spent 11 years, winning trophies and championships; first as a member of the Richmond Ramblers motorcycle club and then moving into car racing at Vallejo Speedway, and then at West capital Speedway in Sacramento, Calif.

In 1976, Ray moved his family to Burns. He first worked at Burns high school for four years before opening his first business, Ray’s Repair. After four years, Ray took a job with Hoyt and Sons for the next seven years. He left Hoyt’s and again opened his own shop which he ran for the remainder of his life.

Ray leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Glenna; son, Steve; and daughter, Charlotte; stepbrother, Tim Riley; niece, Rhonda Herrera; three grandchildren, Courtney, Beau, and Tyler; and four great-grandchildren, Yeida, Daniel, Eleanor and Benjamin. Ray truly adored his wife, children, grandkids, great-grandkids, all his family, and his many friends in Burns and the surrounding areas. Ray requested that no service be held.