Ray Clarke Steffen

Ray Clarke Steffen passed away peacefully at home on April 5, 2024 with his immediate family present and surrounded by the thoughts and prayers of many friends and extended family members. He was born August 23, 1943 in Decatur, IL. His parents George W. and Ruby E. Steffen, stepmother Loretta L. Steffen, and first wife Helen Kay West pre-deceased him. He is survived by his daughter Christina K. Lee, son-in-law William Lee, and his grandson Adam of Jefferson; his granddaughters Hannah Warnke of Gresham, and Alex Sims of Utah, as well as his former wife Alexa and stepchildren Christopher Holmes of Massachusetts, and Erin Holmes of California. Ray attended school and lived in Decatur IL, graduating from Eisenhower HS in 1961. He attended University of Illinois and Millikin University, graduating with a BS in Engineering. He worked as a technician and engineer for General Electric until 1974. He married his high school sweetheart, in 1966. They moved to Pleasanton, CA in the San Francisco Bay area where their daughter, Christina Kay was born in 1975. Their move to Oregon in 1977 became a full family move as Ray's parents also relocated from Illinois to Corvallis to join them and their new granddaughter. Ray's professional career was linked to the consumer electronics business areas starting with GE in 1965 then Memorex and Hewlett Packard Corp. in California and Oregon until his retirement in 2001. As both manager and as an engineer, he was involved in the development and manufacturing of many innovative products as well as the HP ink-jet printer platforms including packaging systems at both domestic and many international HP locations. In his second career, following his retirement from HP Ray was owner and operator of residential improvements business specializing in preparation-for-sale services to Realtors in the San Diego north county coastal areas. Giving back to his community, Ray supported various organizations over the years including 17 years with the Benton County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue. He volunteered and served at various offices in Mary's Peak 4WD where his dark green Toyota Landcruiser became a unique identity and visible icon for many years. Having bought it new in 1977, he is keeping the rig in the immediate family by passing it down to his grandson, Adam. Ray was also very active with the Red Cross in Corvallis serving as volunteer, a long-time board member and President for several years. He supported the Special Olympics Basketball Tourney at OSU and was a member of the noon Kiwanis until transferring to HP in San Diego. While in San Diego he volunteered through the SD County Council on Aging to assist the lower income elderly with repairs and improvements to allow them to safely extend the stay in their own homes as long as possible. He relocated back to Oregon in 2009 to be near his daughter and their new family in Salem and to develop his new business offering personalized evaluations and in-home personal services for elderly and physically limited. He has recently also enjoyed volunteering with the local County Historical Society. Ray enjoyed visiting with close friends, humorous books and discussing the latest developments in polities, science and technology. He always felt great satisfaction and joy in helping friends and neighbors with projects and became the resident "mister fix it". He was always ready to lend tools and time and talent to help make life for others a bit easier. He loved his all his family and friends - he will be missed.

Tributes

Ray Clarke Steffen

August 23, 1943 - April 5, 2024