Raymond A Contreras

December 20, 1951 - February 24, 2018

Raymond Albino Contreras, son of Albino and Ermila Contreras from Toppenish, WA passed away on the morning of February 24, 2018 in Yakima WA. He was 66 years old. >>> >>> He survived by Nathan Contreras, Jason Contreras and his life partner Christyl Guthrie. His grandchildren Ryanne and Alex Contreras, and Xander Stuber. >>>>> >>>>> Ray graduated from Toppenish High School in 1970 and started his first job at Del Monte in Toppenish while going to college at YVCC He bought his first car and it was a PURPLE Dodge Charger and when cruising the Yakima Ave in 1972 he meet the love of his life Marilyn Arent. They wed in July of 1973 after a short romance. They bought a home in Toppenish and settled in. Ray decided to put in for a Animal Control Officer and got the job and worked for a year. Since Ray worked at Toppenish Police Department his desire was to become a police officer. So he went to the Seattle police academy and graduated a year later and became a patrolman for the Toppenish police department. Being bi-lingual he often served as an interpreter when one was needed. He continued in that role "bridging the gap" between non-English speaking persons and inquiring officers. He took most of the Spanish statements from witnesses complaints and those arrested. He would often be called at home from fellow officers from an excited voice asking him to help in Spanish. Ray loved his job and the people he worked with. They became part of their family too. In his spare time he enjoyed dancing. He played the guitar and often was a youth choir director at Saint Aloysius Church. He was interested in youngsters and wanted to develop camp projects for youth in the summers. >>>>> >>>>> Ray and Marilyn were blessed with their first son, Nathan Ray Contreras and In 1979 they were blessed with their second son, Jason Ryan Contreras. After years on the force he wanted more. He wanted a different challenge so he went back to school at Gonzaga University and studied civil and criminal cases. In 1987 after his college, he went to work at the Washington State Department of Defense of King County in the Department of Society Council Representing Accused Persons (S.C.R.A.P.). Ray fell in love again with Vicky Pena. They eloped to Las Vegas. Ray continued is his job and Vicky went to school to study architecture . Ray was forced into retirement due to medical reasons. Ray was a very humble man who always put his family first. He succeeded in what he loved to do. Ray lived his life to the fullest. He will be deeply missed and is leaving behind many wonderful friends and family. >>> Funeral Services: >>> Funeral for Ray Contreras: >>> >>> Viewing Sunday, March 4,2018 time 2-5 pm. >>> Toppenish--Colonial Funeral home. 228 S Alder St Toppenish, WA 98948. >>> >>> Funeral: >>> Central Assembly of God. >>> 701 S 3rd Ave, >>> Yakima Wa. 98902 >>> Time: 11:00 am >>> Monday, March 5th, 2018 >>> Reception following >>> as a potluck at the church.