Brien D. Ray died in Seattle Dec. 23, after a short battle with a liver disorder. He was 43.

Ray was born March 31, 1966, in Santa Clara, Calif. The family made their home in the San Jose, Calif., and Antioch, Calif., area until relocating to Moore, Okla., when Ray was 12. He attended Moore High School until his sophomore year, when he earned his GED. He worked for the Coca-Cola Company and in the oil fields until 1986. During this time he met and married his first wife Wendy Baker on Sept. 29, 1984. They divorced in 1990.

He was in the U.S. Navy from 1986 to 1990, during which time he served as a torpedo man on the USS Nevada, stationed at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor. He also was stationed in San Diego. After his service, he moved to Kingston where he married Gayle Long on Aug. 25, 1990.

In 1991 he was accepted into the apprenticeship program for Northwest Sheet Metal Union Local 66. He turned out as journeyman in 1996. From 1996 he worked for Holaday Parks Inc. until he injured himself and was pensioned in 2006.

Ray attended Kingston Christian Church.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Victoria Diane Ray.

He is survived by his wife Gayle; his daughters: Lisa Mckenzie (Caleb) and Nanika Ray; his son, Jonathan Ray; his parents, Nora and Willie D. Ray; his siblings: Willie D. Ray III, Shelly, Larry, Carey and Jeff Ray; two grandchildren: Joshua and Kaylee Mckenzie; and many other relatives.

Services were at Kingston Christian Church Jan. 4. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the University of Washington liver research foundation. A guestbook is available at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.