Obituary: Raymond R. Hume

Raymond R. Hume
June 23, 1919~February 10, 2008
Longtime Rangely resident Raymond R. “Junior” Hume, 88, died Feb. 10, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.
Raymond Roy Hume was born June 23, 1919, in Wichita Falls, Texas, the son of Ray and Tracy (Buss) Hume. He was raised in Texas and as a young man guarding prisoners of war in Lordsburg, N.M., met a lovely young Beatrice Madero. Ray shipped off to war, proudly serving his country in the United States Army during World War II in New Guinea, Japan and Australia.
Two days after his ship landed in California, he was united in marriage to Beatrice on Nov. 15, 1945, in Hollywood, Calif. Mrs. Hume survives in the family home. Even after his discharge he continued to serve in the Army Reserves.
After leaving California the couple lived briefly in Glendale, Ariz., where he worked at a Safeway grocery store. In 1947, the young family moved to Rangely where Ray worked on the rigs for a few years until he joined his father and brother in creating Ray Hume Trucking, delivering goods in and out of Rangely for many years, including several years as the Budweiser distributor in the 50s and 60s.
Ray and Bea owned and operated the Headquarters Bar for many years and for more than 30 years Ray was the manager of the Rangely Elks Club.
A busier man in Rangely would be hard to find as for a short time, Ray operated an ice machine company and was a partner in the short-lived John’s Cash Market with his son, John.
Nichols Market was purchased by Ray, Bill and John in 1974, and employed most of the Hume family throughout the years. Ray kept the books and did accounting work for all of the companies he had owned through the years and was responsible for training many clerks and bartenders, most of whom were first intimidated by Ray but learned to respect his work ethic and drive. Ray went to work most mornings long before sun-up and didn’t end his day until the tasks at hand were complete.
In what little free time he had, Ray could be found with a load of kids (as long as they were out of diapers) headed out to fish. He enjoyed hunting and fishing alike as well as his time in the great outdoors. Ray never passed up the opportunity to play cards of any sort. He was a great American with a reverence for the country he so proudly served.
In addition to Beatrice, his wife of 62 years, Ray is survived by five children, Fern Arnn and her husband Charlie, Janice Porter, William Hume and Julie and John Hume and his wife Beckey, all of Rangely, Barbara Williams and her husband Jack of Casper, Wyo., as well as 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren with an additional three great-grandchildren due this summer.
His parents, one brother, James Hume and two sisters, Fern Tipton and Theresa B. Cady have preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday from the Rangely Christian Church. Interment with Elks and full military honors will be in the Rangely Cemetery.