Jenkins, Raymond Edward (62) passed away at home with his family on March 25th, at 2:55 P.M. He is survived by his wife, of 35 years, Glenda; his three sisters, Shirley (Ron) Betournay, Connie (Ken) Brittain and Terri Jenkins and Chris Artz; five sons, Derek (Jessica), Aaron (Winter), Deron, Jaron (Amy), Jarek and a chosen son Jerry (Eleda) Najera; along with eleven grandchildren, Auston, Sydney, Ashton, Aidon, Martin, Dillon, Colby, Caden, Erien, Isabella and Wyatt. Raymond was born January 29, 1950 in Boulder, Colorado to LaVerne Edward and Helen Mae (Dirkes) Jenkins.

He moved with his family to Richland, Washington in 1956 and graduated from Kennewick High School in 1968. Raymond attended WSU and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Entomology. He joined the Peace Corps and served overseas in Africa for 2 ? years where he taught multiple different tribes to farm. Raymond married the love of his life Glenda Richardson, Nov. 13, 1976 in Moses Lake where they lived until 1977. He worked for Pure Gro Fertilizer Company for 2 years as a Field Representative of the Warden plant and was later promoted to Manager of the George, WA plant from 1976 to 1982. He then managed The Milbrandt Brothers' Farm for several years before starting his own farm in George.  Raymond was active in the Free Methodist Church in Kennewick, Quincy, and Moses Lake; serving as a Sunday School Teacher in Quincy. He served as a volunteer fireman for 15 years in George. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his lifelong friends Paul and Joe Killinger. He has also served on the Adams County Noxious Weed Board as well as a bus driver and emergency teacher substitute for the Lind School District.  The family moved to Lind in 1997, with Raymond looking for a challenge which he found on the current family farm. There were miles of fencing to be replaced, tons of garbage to remove, structures to be rebuilt, earth that he could make his own, and he had 6 boys to help him accomplish just that. He would be the master of his own kingdom. This would be a new beginning where he could raise his family in a loving and rich community. When Ray first laid eyes on the valley; that they would soon call home, it was love at first sight. He saw the challenge that he was looking for and more than he could imagine. There would be good times and hard times to come, but he was the kind of man that looked at hardships as the challenges he needed to make life worth while. No words can express the amount of pride Ray has in his sons.

Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 PM on April 7th, at the Lind Jr./Sr. High School Gymnasium 507 North E Street. Raymond will be interred at the Lind Cemetery. Memorial gifts can be made to Relay for Life Cancer Society. Danekas Funeral Home and Crematory-Ritzville is entrusted with arrangements.