Obituary for Raymond Finley Jr.
Raymond Finley III was born on June 21,1974, at 2:19am in Rock Springs, Wyoming to Raymond Finley Jr. and Darlene Owens Finley.
Raymond grew up with an extraordinary love for the outdoors, animals, camping, hunting, and fishing. Raymond attended Mountain View High School and graduated in 1992. Throughout high school he worked as a ranch hand at Lupher Ranch where his love for nature and animals was fostered. That love blossomed into a desire to attend Outfitter training in Trout Creek, Montana where he graduated at the top of his class. While in Outfitter training, he learned the love for ethical hunting and was awarded for his impeccable skills in archery.
Raymond was no average hunter. He had extremely strong feelings about moral and ethical hunting where he loved the challenge of stalking, tracking and calling his prey. Some hunters call out to their prey with store bought calls and then there was Ray, who could make hunting calls with his own hands and mouth to a level of perfection, unknown to even the most experienced of hunters.
Ray respected the challenge of the hunt. He was not the type of man who would take a shot standing with a high powered rifle from 5 football fields away. On the contrary, he hunted with the mindset of giving the animal the same advantages that he had. Ray became a certified Big Game Hunting Guide in Ruby, Alaska when he was 19 years old. He spent his late teens and early twenties in Alaska with his late, beloved uncle, Jesse Owens.
Together they explored the majestic mountain ranges, wildlife and terrain of Alaska. Raymond cherished the time he was able to spend with his uncle Jesse in Alaska, including a few amusing trips to the Great Alaskan Bush Company.
Raymond's next adventure in life was joining his father in Shasta Lake City, California where he spent the next seven years as a distinguished Timber Faller. Ray often spoke of how he marveled at the giant California redwoods. Raymond treasured the years spent with his father in the glorious forests of the Pacific Northwest. Raymond cultivated his desire to be challenged and thus moved onto his final career choice and endeavor as an underground Hard Rock Miner.
Ray spent the next 20+ years in mining, gold, silver and other precious metals, becoming part of a Brotherhood of Miners who would become the truest and most valued friends of his life. Ray spent several years working for J.S. Redpath at Pogo in Alaska, as well as Elko Nevada, Reno Nevada and Lead South Dakota, most recently at the Homestake Mine working for Thyssen Mining. Within the Brotherhood of mining, Ray was recognized as having the most patient and kind demeanor, which made him one of the most favored Trainers/Shifters in mining to date. Throughout his career in mining, Raymond was recognized with many awards including Top Shifter, multiple top safety awards and had an affinity for the operation of heavy equipment. He was one hell of a Miner and could outwork those half his age with ease.
Raymond loved to spend his free time riding and raising horses, hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, landscaping, gardening– arboring, snowmobiling as well as carpentry and watching the Seahawks play football. Yet, his greatest love of all, was his family. He loved spending his days off antique shopping with his mother and sister, taking road trips with his brother-in-law, visiting his father and stepmother in Nevada, spending time gardening and chatting with his stepfather and hanging out with his niece and nephew. He also enjoyed sharing a cold beer and some good conversation with his beautiful daughter Aydan.
Ray met the love of his life, Dezirae in 2015, and shortly after, Ray met Dezirae's children. A seed of love had been planted. Dezirae's children and Ray hit it off from the start and Ray developed a love for them as his own. With much pride, Ray and Dezirae joined as one in marriage on June 14, 2019.
Although Ray spent much time away working to provide for his family, he displayed a true labor of love making certain Dezirae knew that she was the center of his world. Raymond and Dezirae shared a love of animals, especially dogs, together they had 5, including his best buds Brock and Bella. They shared many countless nights of intellectual conversations. These conversations ranged anywhere from politics, religion, dreams, hopes for the future, retirement plans and the love of their grandbabies, NoaReign, Camila and Lenyxx. Raymond enjoyed being "Pop pop" and teaching little Noa how to water the trees and pretend to drive Pop Pop's favorite car, "Bruiser". Raymond and Dezirae were two kindred spirits, best of friends and the love of each other's lives. Raymond's heart soared with pride over his loving wife Dezirae, his beautiful daughters Aydan, Destinie, his "home slice" or "little homie" Daizha, his garage assistant Cruz, his music buddy Austin and his "little lady" Timberlynn.
Raymond was a simple man who loved the feeling of the sun shine on his face, the fresh air in his lungs and having an open highway before him in his beloved car "Bruiser". Raymond Finley will always be remembered as a selfless, kind and gentle man, a man with an unparalleled pride in workmanship and a man with a fierce love and protective instinct for his family and closest brothers in mining.
Raymond always dreamed of being a game warden. He was taken tragically and too soon on April 4, 2022, shortly before his 48th birthday. Raymond will forever be the Guardian Angel watching over his family and Pals, suffering no more from the pains of this world. Instead, he forevermore will be most distinguished game warden in the sky.
He leaves behind his beloved wife Dezirae, His daughters, Aydan, Destinie, Daizha and Timberlynn as well as His son Joshua and son-in- law Austin, His grandson NoaReign and granddaughters, Camila and Lenyxx.
He is also survived by his father Raymond, stepmother Glen Ellen, step brothers Patrick and Tomas. His mother Darlene, stepfather Raymundo, Sister Angie, brother-in-law Dan, niece Britney, nephew Brandon, grandmothers Zelma and Clara as well as many other uncles, aunts and cousins.
He also leaves behind an entire community of Miners who loved and respected Him. Including some of His closest pals Kent, Jeff, Blake, Phil, John H., John K., Banjo, Kris, Steve, Ty and so many more, too numerous to list them all.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Raymond Finley Sr., his maternal grandfather Jesse Owens Sr. and his maternal uncle Jesse Owens Jr.
Raymond grew up with an extraordinary love for the outdoors, animals, camping, hunting, and fishing. Raymond attended Mountain View High School and graduated in 1992. Throughout high school he worked as a ranch hand at Lupher Ranch where his love for nature and animals was fostered. That love blossomed into a desire to attend Outfitter training in Trout Creek, Montana where he graduated at the top of his class. While in Outfitter training, he learned the love for ethical hunting and was awarded for his impeccable skills in archery.
Raymond was no average hunter. He had extremely strong feelings about moral and ethical hunting where he loved the challenge of stalking, tracking and calling his prey. Some hunters call out to their prey with store bought calls and then there was Ray, who could make hunting calls with his own hands and mouth to a level of perfection, unknown to even the most experienced of hunters.
Ray respected the challenge of the hunt. He was not the type of man who would take a shot standing with a high powered rifle from 5 football fields away. On the contrary, he hunted with the mindset of giving the animal the same advantages that he had. Ray became a certified Big Game Hunting Guide in Ruby, Alaska when he was 19 years old. He spent his late teens and early twenties in Alaska with his late, beloved uncle, Jesse Owens.
Together they explored the majestic mountain ranges, wildlife and terrain of Alaska. Raymond cherished the time he was able to spend with his uncle Jesse in Alaska, including a few amusing trips to the Great Alaskan Bush Company.
Raymond's next adventure in life was joining his father in Shasta Lake City, California where he spent the next seven years as a distinguished Timber Faller. Ray often spoke of how he marveled at the giant California redwoods. Raymond treasured the years spent with his father in the glorious forests of the Pacific Northwest. Raymond cultivated his desire to be challenged and thus moved onto his final career choice and endeavor as an underground Hard Rock Miner.
Ray spent the next 20+ years in mining, gold, silver and other precious metals, becoming part of a Brotherhood of Miners who would become the truest and most valued friends of his life. Ray spent several years working for J.S. Redpath at Pogo in Alaska, as well as Elko Nevada, Reno Nevada and Lead South Dakota, most recently at the Homestake Mine working for Thyssen Mining. Within the Brotherhood of mining, Ray was recognized as having the most patient and kind demeanor, which made him one of the most favored Trainers/Shifters in mining to date. Throughout his career in mining, Raymond was recognized with many awards including Top Shifter, multiple top safety awards and had an affinity for the operation of heavy equipment. He was one hell of a Miner and could outwork those half his age with ease.
Raymond loved to spend his free time riding and raising horses, hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, landscaping, gardening– arboring, snowmobiling as well as carpentry and watching the Seahawks play football. Yet, his greatest love of all, was his family. He loved spending his days off antique shopping with his mother and sister, taking road trips with his brother-in-law, visiting his father and stepmother in Nevada, spending time gardening and chatting with his stepfather and hanging out with his niece and nephew. He also enjoyed sharing a cold beer and some good conversation with his beautiful daughter Aydan.
Ray met the love of his life, Dezirae in 2015, and shortly after, Ray met Dezirae's children. A seed of love had been planted. Dezirae's children and Ray hit it off from the start and Ray developed a love for them as his own. With much pride, Ray and Dezirae joined as one in marriage on June 14, 2019.
Although Ray spent much time away working to provide for his family, he displayed a true labor of love making certain Dezirae knew that she was the center of his world. Raymond and Dezirae shared a love of animals, especially dogs, together they had 5, including his best buds Brock and Bella. They shared many countless nights of intellectual conversations. These conversations ranged anywhere from politics, religion, dreams, hopes for the future, retirement plans and the love of their grandbabies, NoaReign, Camila and Lenyxx. Raymond enjoyed being "Pop pop" and teaching little Noa how to water the trees and pretend to drive Pop Pop's favorite car, "Bruiser". Raymond and Dezirae were two kindred spirits, best of friends and the love of each other's lives. Raymond's heart soared with pride over his loving wife Dezirae, his beautiful daughters Aydan, Destinie, his "home slice" or "little homie" Daizha, his garage assistant Cruz, his music buddy Austin and his "little lady" Timberlynn.
Raymond was a simple man who loved the feeling of the sun shine on his face, the fresh air in his lungs and having an open highway before him in his beloved car "Bruiser". Raymond Finley will always be remembered as a selfless, kind and gentle man, a man with an unparalleled pride in workmanship and a man with a fierce love and protective instinct for his family and closest brothers in mining.
Raymond always dreamed of being a game warden. He was taken tragically and too soon on April 4, 2022, shortly before his 48th birthday. Raymond will forever be the Guardian Angel watching over his family and Pals, suffering no more from the pains of this world. Instead, he forevermore will be most distinguished game warden in the sky.
He leaves behind his beloved wife Dezirae, His daughters, Aydan, Destinie, Daizha and Timberlynn as well as His son Joshua and son-in- law Austin, His grandson NoaReign and granddaughters, Camila and Lenyxx.
He is also survived by his father Raymond, stepmother Glen Ellen, step brothers Patrick and Tomas. His mother Darlene, stepfather Raymundo, Sister Angie, brother-in-law Dan, niece Britney, nephew Brandon, grandmothers Zelma and Clara as well as many other uncles, aunts and cousins.
He also leaves behind an entire community of Miners who loved and respected Him. Including some of His closest pals Kent, Jeff, Blake, Phil, John H., John K., Banjo, Kris, Steve, Ty and so many more, too numerous to list them all.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Raymond Finley Sr., his maternal grandfather Jesse Owens Sr. and his maternal uncle Jesse Owens Jr.