Ray Hinderlie, lifelong educator, devoted family man, musician, poet, and handyman died January 2, 2008, at the age of 92. He was born in Canby, Oregon, to Ragna and Berent Severin Hinderlie in 1915, moved to a farm near Roy, Washington, in 1920 and was educated at Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland.

He began his teaching profession at age 20 in a small two-room schoolhouse in Central Valley on the Kitsap Peninsula. His teaching career spanned 39 years: 24 years in Kitsap County and 15 years in the Highline School District. He was the founding principal of Marcus Whitman Junior High in South Kitsap, and also headed Sylvester Junior High and was one of the last administrators at Glacier High School. He was active in the State Principals' Association and a member of the Port Orchard and South Central Kiwanis Clubs and the Burien Elks.

Music was a passion for Ray, a lifetime member of the Musicians Union, playing saxophone, piano, and banjo in dance bands for over 50 years. His music was also the catalyst for many happy hours with friends at their winter home in Yuma for 18 years.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Irene; daughter Arlene and George Wade of Normandy Park; son Richard and Ann of Denver; son Sandy and Helma Kaldewey of New Orleans; and grandchildren Kristin (Shane) Sackmann of Issaquah, Nancy Hinderlie of Denver and Brady Wade of Normandy Park.

A memorial service was held Sunday, January 6, 2008, at the Judson Park Retirement Community's Rainier Chapel, in Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wade-Hinderlie Scholarship Fund, c/o Pacific Lutheran University, Office of Development, Tacoma, WA 98447.