Memories

Growing up in Covenant Presbyterian Church (1976-1989), I knew Mr. Bothel as an elder in the church. When I gave my life to the Lord and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, Ray was one of the elders who interviewed me (before I took communion) along with Pastor Bill Swenson, and elders Paul Bloomberg, Dick McPherson, and Ray Addington. I remember as a child seeing these men also most like grandparents as my own grandparents didn’t live close. My own parents were young Christians and these elders mentored and discipled my dad.

I attended Camp Shalom as a camper and later as a staff member. Ray taught computers as a skills class. I still can picture him hunched over the computers setting them all up!

My last memory of Ray was not too long ago. About six or seven years ago I took my parents on a short trip over to the greater Seattle area from Spokane (where we moved to in 1989). One night on that trip we got together with Dick and Anna McPherson and Ray and Pat Bothel. This group had not seen each other in fifteen plus years but the conversation and laughter picked up as though time had passed at all.

I rejoice in knowing he now in the arms of the Lord for eternity. I send Pat, all of the Bothel family, and Addington family my love and condolences!