Former City Manager, Ray Jones, Dies at 65

C. Ray Jones, 65, of Hermiston, died on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in Hermiston.

Ray was born to Paul W. And Gladys A. Jones on April 10, 1948 in Heppner. He attended Heppner Schools graduating in 1966. Ray married the love of his life Linda L. (George) Jones in 1977.

Ray had three distinct careers. He worked 18 years in radio broadcasting, starting as a disc jockey, moving to sales and management, being promoted to station manager for both an AM and FM station in Baker City, and serving as vice president of Oregon Trail Broadcasting. In 1988, the stations were sold and Ray was hired as a loan officer with US Bank of Oregon and moved to Hermiston in 1989. He worked with the bank for 10 years, until it sold to a Minnesota bank, when he chose to leave the corporate world and went to work for the city of Hermiston as assistant city manager, a position that he held until retiring in 2012.

Ray was a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, buying his first bike in 1971, and was never without a motorcycle until he sold his last one in 2013. In his earlier years he was an active racer in the Oregon Motorcycle Racing Association, competing in Hare and Hound, Enduro and Cross Country Desert Racing finishing third in the state in the Desert Racing Series in 1981. In Baker, he was also an avid snowmobiler and recreational skier. When he was just out of high school he even tried his hand at rodeo, entering team roping and calf events throughout Eastern Oregon. After their move to Hermiston, Ray was very active as a motorcycle touring rider traveling through most of the Western U.S.

Ray was always service oriented, serving in the Jaycees, Baker Lions Club and as a board member of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce. After moving to Hermiston, he served as president of the Greater Area Hermiston Chamber of Commerce, president of the Hermiston Rotary Club, president of the Desert Arts Council, as well as being involved in other community events and activities.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Gladys Jones. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda L. Jones; brother, Gary W. Jones and wife Doris of Heppner; sister, Sandra M. Blake of Kennewick, Wash.; sister-in-law, Annette Craner and husband Greg Swaim of Newberg; and numerous nieces and nephews and many cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Hermiston Christian Center 1825 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston.

A Celebration of Life to follow at the Turner Ranch on Knight Road Hermiston.

There also will be a Celebration of Life at Crossroads Art Center in Baker City on Sunday May 4, 2014 at 3 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hermiston Rotary Club’s Scholarship Fund or to the Crossroads Art Center in Baker City.

Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.