Phillip T. Raya

Phillip T. Raya, 53, of Toppenish, Wash., passed away Thursday, July 8, 2004.

Phillip was born January 13, 1951, in Yakima, to Tony and Edna "Madge" (Bobb) Raya. He spent his early years working on the Raya Farms in Warden and then moved to Toppenish to work on the Kinter Ranches. The highlight of his life was branding cattle and going on annual cattle drives where he pushed cattle to the high mountain summer grazing range on the Yakama Indian Reservation.

He'll be forever remembered fondly by all his family and friends for his enjoyment of life and humor.

Phillip was married to Sylvia Arizpe and later to Virginia Mendez.

Survivors include: his five children, Phillip (Michelle) Garcia of Moses Lake, Marcella (Tom) Chavez of Yakima, Robyn (Richard) Raya of Hollister, Calif., and Adrian (Rachel) Mendez and Victoria (Beau) Raya, both of Moses Lake; his father, Tony Raya of Yuma, Ariz.; nine grandchildren, Erica, Berlyn, Jasmyne, Keiley, Marques, Isabel, Katelyn, Emily and Paris; four sisters, Rose Cantu of Pasco, Rebecca (Terry) Crocker of Neskowin, Ore., Angella Vaile of Toppenish and Ann (Ken) Lewis of Eagle Point, Ore.; two brothers, Joseph Raya of Seattle and Sequoia Raya of Toppenish; and his close friends, Marvin Kinter, Lloyd Rabanal, Al Garcia, Sal Sandoval, the Hernandez brothers, Mike Bushman, David Jack and Buzzy Strong.

Phillip was preceded in death by his mother, Edna "Madge" Bobb Raya, a sister, Marcella De La Garza and his grandfathers, Arnolfo "Torro" Munoz, who raised Phillip, and Wilson Bobb, Sr.

Viewing was at Colonial Funeral Home, 228 South Alder Street, Toppenish, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday and from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, with a Rosary service at 6 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 12, 2004, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 210 North Beech Street, Toppenish. Concluding services and burial was held at 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 12, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, County Road U, Warden, Wash. (two miles south of Warden and five miles north of Bruce)

A late lunch will be at 4 p.m. at the Toppenish Eagles Lodge, 515 South Division, Toppenish (phone 509-865-2229).