Raymond Fred Deterling

In Loving Memory of

Raymond Fred Deterling
of Burien, Washington, United States
09/04/1941 – 09/20/2026

It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my sweet husband of more than 50 years, Ray Deterling, on September 20th 2026. It is also with immense gratitude that I thank him for a love and a friendship which brought both great happiness and steadfastness in the inevitable valleys of life. When I first met him, and every day since, the first word that always stands out in my mind is Integrity. If he said he would do it, he always did. He was a quiet, kind man who valued family and friendships above all else.

Raymond Fred Deterling was born in Kodiak, Alaska September 4th 1941. His father Richard Deterling, a civilian employee of the military, and his mother Florence (nee Markham) started their family in Alaska. A mere two months after Ray’s birth the bombing of Pearl Harbor changed everything for the world at large, and the Deterling family’s path. All dependents were hurriedly sent home. He and his mother returned to Everett, Washington to be with family. Ray grew up in Everett, graduated from Washington State University and apart from his army service, was a life-long resident of the Pacific Northwest.

Ray was a homebody. His beloved K.C., and Adam soon learned what I had learned as soon as I met him, vegetable gardening was his foremost passion. From a young age Ray had helped his Grandpa Fred in Fred’s large and plentiful garden. As an adult Ray could not wait in the spring to start planting vegetables which he would nurture throughout the season with a zeal that was entertaining to watch. Annually he would become exasperated by my desire to eat freshly grown peas right off the vine, professing firmly he wanted them saved to be displayed as a bountiful side dish on the dinner table. He loved introducing K.C. and then Adam to the particular skills and intricacies of gardening the way his grandfather had done for him. Ray loved reading, the challenge of jigsaw puzzles, crockpot cooking, a table of good food, and every dessert ever offered to him. After a large holiday meal, when the gathered family was groaning from one-to-many helpings of stuffing, he was always the first to ask for pumpkin pie. In his later years he loved the old-fashioned notion of writing “snail mail” notes to his children, grandson and treasured friends. They were without fail always filled with encouragement and humor.

Ray was preceded in death by his mother and father, sister Carol Morris, niece Tracy and cousin Daryl. He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughter K.C. (Chip), son Adam, grandson Evan, brother-in-law Michael and wife Cheryl, close cousins Mel and Gary, nieces Julie, Wendy and Sha-Rie, and nephews Brock and August. There was absolutely no greater pleasure for Ray than celebrating the joys and successes of the next generations of the family. He is woven deeply in all our hearts and will be treasured forever.