Raymond "Shorty" Womer

Raymond "Shorty" Womer passed away peacefully in the Colville Tribal Convalescent Center Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. He was born May 14, 1931, in Washington, D.C., raised by Harry and Lena Howard, Gaithersburg, Maryland. He joined the Air Force when he was 17 and was honorably discharged in 1952. He worked in El Paso, Texas, then moved to Washington State to the Omak area, where he worked at Biles-Coleman Lumber Company. He moved to Nespelem, Washington, in 1962 with his wife, Kathy, who me married Janauary 28, 1955. They have three sons: Willie, John, and Russell.

His employment consisted of Biles-Coleman; Richardson's Omak Lake Marina, Omak; Glen Whitelaw-Woodsman; and Jess G. Casey Store; his own grocery store; Town of Nespelem; Nespelem Elementary School before retiring. He was Mayor of Nespelem from 1974 to 1981; Nespelem School Board member; Nespelem Rodeo Club; board member of Nespelem Rural Electric; and member of Coulee Dam Mason Lodge, and El Katif Shriners.

Shorty is survived by his wife, Kathy; three sons: William Ray, John Clinton, and Russell Dene; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and brother, William Morrison and family of Thurmont, Maryland.

He was predeceased by his foster parents, Harry and Lena.

Shorty was known for his great sense of humor. He loved life and family and his many friends. Earlier in his life, he enjoyed aqua-diving in the lakes and rivers locally. He snowmobiled the mountains; and rode with his friends on his motor bike to sites around the Colville Reservation. He helped the local ranchers in their seasonal moving of cattle, branding, etc.

Arrangements were handled by Strate Funeral Home and the Neptune Society.

Memorial services were held for Shorty in the Nespelem Community Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., with a dinner that followed.