Raymond G. Sanders, 76

Raymond G. Sanders, 76, of Kalispell, passed away Feb. 25, 2016, surrounded by his family.

He was born April 29, 1939 to William and Iva Sanders in Helena. At the age of 3 his family moved to a farm in Lower Valley which he later purchased from his parents and expanded with his wife, Darlene. Ray graduated from Flathead High School in 1957 and married his high school sweetheart in 1963.

Ray enjoyed life to the fullest, but his two passions were family and flying. After 50 years of farming, he realized this piece of his life took up too much of his playtime, so he retired making flying and restoring aircraft his career. He later discovered his talent and love for wood carving.

Ray served on the board of the Agricultural Soil Conservation Service (ASCS) and was the area Air Search Coordinator for Montana Aeronautics Division. He had served as president of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the Montana Pilots Association (MPA), the Montana Antique Airplane Association (MAAA), was a member of Village Greens Wood Carvers, and was the current Chairman of Flathead County Weed and Parks Department.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Robert “Bob” Sanders and Horace Sanders and one sister Alice Funk.

He is survived by his wife Darlene; daughter Lori Moran and her husband Billy Moran; two granddaughters Kodee Wagner and Bella Moran; one grandson Dustin Moran; brother William “Bill” Sanders; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo building.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.