MAY 1, 2016
S moke S ignals
17
Walking On...
Richard Dorland “Mushy” Ray
Ethel “Josephine” Towers
June 23, 1947 – April 11, 2016
Tribal Elder Richard Dorland
“Mushy” Ray, 68, was born June 23,
1947, at the hospital in McMinnville,
Ore., and passed away at Willamette
Valley Medical Center in McMinnville
on April 11, 2016, after being ill for a
short time with cancer.
Mushy Ray lived in Willamina, Ore.,
most of his life after moving from Cres-
cent City, Calif., where he lived with his
parents. He learned how to drive big
trucks at an early age, being tutored
by his uncle Bob Smith, who referred
to Richard as “Dick” then, who drove
off-road log trucks with Mushy and was right in the truck with him.
After he was old enough to get his commercial driver’s license,
Mushy branched out on his own, driving for many logging businesses
in the West Valley area. He wrecked a few in his younger, more
invincible years, but ended up being a driver who could drive just
about anything, including being able to back up trailers hooked up
to his truck.
Around 1980, he gave his notice to Zimbrick Logging and bought
his own truck. He and his wife, Kathi, built that very used truck
into a mobile home toter and began their own business as Richard
Ray Trucking. They both retired in 2009. Retirement didn’t suit him,
so Mushy went to work for Hurst Berry Farm (HBF International)
in Sheridan, Ore. He worked for HBF until cancer prevented him
from working any longer.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Kathryn “Kathi” M.
Ray and many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and
great-great-grandchildren, all who were from either biological
births, marriage or a gathering of others because he cared.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Madeline L. Smith-Nel-
son; father, Arnold Houck; stepfather, John G. Nelson; stepmother,
Joyce Houck; daughter, Stacy; and granddaughter, Mercedes.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at the
Grand Ronde Tribal gym with a meal that followed at the Elders
Activity Center.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center cared for the family. To send an
online condolence, go to www.dallastribute.com.
Aug. 28, 1916 – April 13, 2016
Ethel “Josephine” Towers passed
away peacefully at home on April 13,
2016, at age 99. She was with her family
and caregivers as she began her journey
to join her ancestors.
Jo was a descendant of Chief Tumulth
and Susan Tumulth. Tumulth was chief
of the Cascade Watlala Band of Indians
and was a principal signer of the Treaty
of the Willamette Valley, dated 1855.
This treaty turned over lands in the
Willamette Valley and the Columbia
Gorge to the U.S. government. Chief
Tumulth and his band lived near North
Bonneville, Wash., and Jo didn’t stray far from her roots.
She was born to Carrie Ethel Williams Grenia and Joseph Frank
Grenia on Aug. 28, 1916, in Stevenson, Wash. Her grandparents were
Charles and Amanda Williams and James P. and Ella Grenia. The
golf course in North Bonneville is located on her Grenia grandparent’s
former orchard.
Jo’s brother, Carroll Frank Grenia, was born in 1917. He was a dec-
orated B-17 pilot in World War II.
Jo liked to say that her “claim to fame” was seeing Charles Lindber-
gh ly his Spirit of St. Louis airplane under the Bridge of the Gods at
Cascade Locks in 1927. She and her schoolmates just happened to look
out the window at the right time.
Jo met Bob Towers at a dance in Portland and they were wed in 1954.
They were happily married for 53 years. Bob and Jo had an upholstery
business in White Salmon for many years. Jo was a wonderful cook and
baker, and her garden was her true delight. She grew beautiful lowers.
Jo had many cousins who adored her. She was always full of good
humor and loved to laugh at their little jokes. She is survived by her
stepson, Gene Towers, and a nephew, niece and a great-niece.
Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents, Joe and
Carrie Grenia; brother and sister-in-law, Carroll and Trudy Grenia;
and two nieces, Rebecca Grenia and Debbi Grenia Cannon.
Jo leaves many friends and relatives who will miss her sunny dis-
position and her deep knowledge of Columbia Gorge history and her
family’s history in the Gorge.
Her burial was at the Cascades Pioneer Cemetery at North Bonne-
ville on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m. A celebration of life followed at
the Event Center in North Bonneville.
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