Raymond E. Keyes Share E-mail Visit Guest Book Raymond E. Keyes was born to Dana Eugene Keyes and Anna Kernen Keyes, on February 28, 1918, in Brighton, MA. He passed away August 11, 2009, in Richland, WA, at the age of 91. Raymond grew up in Watertown, MA. At the age of 8 he contracted polio and spent much of that school year in recovery. His time in a children's hospital impressed on him the outlook that he was one of the lucky ones. With two brothers and active boys in the neighborhood he grew up loving sports. He attended MIT and graduated in the class of 1940 with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. That curriculum was nearly identical to the one for mechanical engineering, thus his career and employment were that of a mechanical engineer as well. He served in design offices and/or shipyards in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland, OR. After 1955 he served in the nuclear industry in Livermore, CA, and in Richland, WA. His final projects were in the Core Physics group for FFTF and as an engineer for WPPSS. During college he lettered in gymnastics. After college he continued to compete and was New England AAU champion in rings and parallel bars in 1940 and rings and side horse in 1942. He especially enjoyed teaching and later judging presiding over NCAA gymnastic competitions in 1949 and at the high school level in the '70s and '80s. He was active for many years in Boy Scouts, serving as scoutmaster, cubmaster and committeeman. He served many years as a Sunday school teacher. He always enjoyed swimming both at the YMCA, CBRC and upstream in the local irrigation canal but injuries put an end to that in 1992. In the early '70s he joined and enjoyed Toastmasters and in retirement he immersed himself in writing for his personal enjoyment. He served for several years as secretary for the Mid-Columbia Writers Association. He married Virginia A. Norton on March 8, 1952, in Mitchell, Oregon, and they had many happy decades together. She preceded him in death by 25 days. He is survived by son Court of Woodinville, WA; son Tim Nora of Centerville, WA; son Greg Elaine of West Richland, WA; and daughter Kristin Steve Anderson of Pasco, WA; sister-in-law Dorthea Keyes, nieces Carol Titjien and Linda Baynard, all of New Jersey; five grandchildren, Jennifer Bruhn, Hanna Keyes-Nowlin, Adin and Delaney Anderson, and Carlyle Keyes; sister-in-law Betty Jo Norton in Mitchell, OR; nephew Tom Mary Norton Prineville, OR; nieces Mary Gillen, Prineville, OR, and Lorraine Brad Andrews, Unity, OR; and one great-grandson. Raymond was preceded in death by his two brothers, Kenneth and Stan. The family would like to thank Ray's wonderful friend Leon Dotson and Debra Johnson for her friendship and care of Raymond over the last 3 years. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 19th, at 2 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 1322 Kimball, Richland. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or the All Saints Episcopal Legacy Fund.