Family and friends will gather April 11 to remember Ray Hart, and are sharing this remembrance with the community now:
Ray Hart passed away in Burien on February 26, 2026 due to complications of Lewy Body Dementia.
Born October 7, 1942, in Tacoma, raised in Eastern Washington and Coeur d’Alene Idaho, Ray lived his adult life in West Seattle and Kihei, HI. Ray was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, community member, child, and lifelong educator. Ray raised his children in West Seattle, in the Sunrise Heights neighborhood. He taught elementary school in the Highline School District at North Hill and Olympic Elementary through the 1970’s and 80’s and actively served for many years on the board of High Point’s Holly Co-op Preschool. He also taught elementary school while living on Maui for the next 27 years, where he also helped establish the island’s first public charter school. Ray and Carla returned to West Seattle in 2019 shortly before Ray was diagnosed with dementia.
Ray will be missed very much by Carla, his wife of 58 years; daughter Ranette (Jay) of West Seattle; sons Carl (Katie) of West Seattle and Matthew of Kihei, HI; and his cherished grandchildren Ivo, Mary Kate, Luce, and Louis, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, caregivers, and friends.
Share memories of Ray and visit the full obituary page & online guestbook at emmickfunerals.com/obituaries/ronald-ray-hart
A Funeral Mass will be held April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 7001 35th Ave SW, followed by a short lunch reception at OLG’s Walmesley Center and a 2:30 PM Committal ceremony at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery, Shoreline. Aloha wear is welcome, in honor of Ray’s much loved life and dear friends on Maui.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kihei Charter School, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, or the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)