2026 Pasco Invitational Track & Field Meet

Ed Ray Biography Editor

Ed Ray is remembered as one of Pasco&rsquo;s most influential civic leaders, a tireless advocate for community growth, and a man whose generosity and leadership helped shape the city for decades.
Raised on a dry-land wheat farm near Washtucna, Washington, Ed learned early the values of hard work, integrity, and service.
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and earning a civil engineering degree from Washington State University (Go Cougs!), he chose a different path&mdash;founding what became the Dunning-Ray Insurance Agency in Pasco, a business he led for nearly 40 years.
Ed was deeply committed to giving back to the community that supported him. Over his lifetime he held leadership roles in many of Pasco&rsquo;s most important civic and service organizations, including the Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Pasco Kiwanis, the&nbsp;Congregational Church, and as an original member of the Tri-City Nuclear Industrial Council (TRIDEC). One way he demonstrated his pride in his community was by placing a billboard on Highway 359 towards Spokane that read &ldquo;Keep Your Eye on Pasco.&rdquo; His steady guidance and willingness to help made him a trusted voice in nearly every major civic effort in the city.
Beyond his professional and civic accomplishments, Ed was known for his warmth, humility, and genuine interest in people. He never met a stranger and believed strongly in building relationships rooted in trust and service. Alongside his wife, Shirley, who&nbsp;he married in 1947, Ed raised three children and modeled a life centered on faith, family, and community involvement. One of his many volunteering opportunities over the years was at the Pasco Invite where he helped as needed and acted as a sponsor so the community could host the competition for thousands of athletes.
Ed Ray&rsquo;s legacy lives on in the strength of the Pasco community he helped build, and in the countless individuals who benefited from his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to making Pasco a better place for all.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Hayden Ray; his daughters Vicki Neibaur and Leslie Parker (Blaine); and his stepsons Steven and Mark Hayden, nine wonderful grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.