Raymond Keith Valentine

Ray was born in Coolidge Kansas on August 8, 1936, to Opal and Joe Valentine, the second of an eventual seven children. Ray was preceded in death by four brothers, Tommy, Richard, Norman, and Curt. He is survived by Ruth Reveile, sister, Austin Texas, and Jerry Valentine, brother, Syracuse, Kansas. Ray was raised in Syracuse, Kansas. From the time he was very young, he was involved in sports and riding club activities. He always said that if they brought a bull in that nobody wanted to ride, his Dad had two volunteers, Ray and his older brother Tommy. Ray roped and rode throughout his young years and worked in the local sales barn, assisting the veterinarian and weighing stock. He also worked with his Dad, cleaning out and loading trucks from the time he was in grade school. During high school, Ray was All-State in football his Junior and Senior (1953 and 1954) years, played basketball and track and received a full ride scholarship to Wichita State University. (I would be remiss if I did not include the fact that he was asked to join the chorus which became a great joke in our family.) He attended Wichita for one semester and then volunteered for the draft and served two years in the United States Army, serving in Germany. During the two years he was in the army he was TDY and played football, basketball and was on the track team during his entire time in the military winning the football championship both years. This was an experience that he loved recounting to the kids and grandkids. His army experience, unlike many others, was an adventure and he enjoyed every minute of his time in the military. Following his return to civilian life, Ray attended several colleges, playing football and getting his education, though it seemed football was his major priority. It was at Westminster College in Salt Lake City that he met Kam, a nursing student at St. Marks. Through an up and down and on and off romance, love won out and they were married on March 25, 1961, in Elko, Nevada. I might add that the car broke down and they had to hitch hike to Elko. Although a rocky start, a lasting, and adoring love of nearly 55 years resulted. In 1960, Ray participated in the Broncos tryout ~ the first year of the team. He developed friendships with a number of the players. He was encouraged to play Canadian football but gave it up to start his family. Ray and Kam had four children, Raymond Kamp (R.K.), Risa Kit, Rhett Keith and Rana Kele. Ray's family was another of his passions. He is the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren. R.K. gifted us with Rayce; Risa with Koltyn and Kasydi; Rhett and Risha with Rianna, Koryn and Elle, and Rana and Rob with Hunter. Then came the Great Grands. Rayce and Sara with Rylin; Koryn and Trevor with Gunnar. ...and down all the days and through the years, Ray played a major role in those memories children cherish forever. Including teaching the kids to count by playing blackjack in the morning before work, driving to endless amounts of lessons, competitions, and spending hours riding with kids and grandkids and sharing his passion and love of life. Ray's career in the construction industry took us first to Denver from Salt Lake and then to Fort Collins where Ray worked as a construction superintendent for Hannan Construction in Cleveland. He was transferred to Buffalo, New York, where he supervised the building the campus of the University of New York at Buffalo. While we were there, we created lasting memories which made for great stories to share about Buffalo. Ray was transferred to Cleveland where he continued with Hannan for several years before establishing his own construction company, focusing mostly on commercial construction, though he did build our home in Bass Lake near Chardon, Ohio. It was difficult for him to leave Ohio as he had begun to establish himself but, in 1977, chose to return closer to family. He continued his business in Colorado Springs working on commercial projects and residential projects. In Colorado Springs he went back to his roots and began buying horses, which the kids, of course, loved. He was proud of each and every horse he purchased with his favorites being ""Huggy"" a roping horse and ""Shorty"" a stallion that he doted on and bred to several of his mares. There was nothing in the world like the birth of our little foals and they were enjoyed by the entire family. During this period there were many ""Little Britches"" rodeos, horse sales, time with trainers and riders in our family. Needless to say, Ray was thrilled when Kasydi chose equine science as her major in college giving him an opportunity to help her buy a horse at the National Western and again last fall in Wyoming. In 1991, Ray and Kam returned to Denver where Ray worked as a project manager and construction superintendent for several construction companies. In 2005 Ray retired following some major health issues, including mild Alzheimers, allowing him more time for his grandchildren and his horses. Following Kam's retirement, the travel began including trips down the Pacific Coast Highway, trips to Montana, time at Riudoso Downs, and the Oregon Coast with Kam's brother Steve and his wife Deanna. During the years time was spent in Las Vegas and Reno. Ray and Kam felt lucky to go to Hawaii with Kam's parents prior to their passing. We enjoyed New Orleans together as well as San Diego, attending Koltyn's graduation from Marine Corps boot camp. A trip to Yuma during Christmas two years ago was great fun as was our trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with Risa and her brood. We were thrilled to have Elle go with us to Ft. Peck Montana, Glacier, Yellowstone and through Idaho. How do you thank a good husband and father for the way his love has enriched your life? That's hard. Perhaps one way is simply to tell him...thank you-- for all there was, for all there is, for all that is yet to come in his children's, grandchildren's and great grandchildren's future.