ROCKPORT – Raye Ellis Colburn, 83, went home into the arms of his loving Savior, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in the compassionate care of the staff at Sussman House in Rockport. Born in Rockland, November 28, 1935, he was the son of Eckart Gould and Grace Carroll Colburn. Raye grew up in Warren with his pet goat ‘Billy’.
Educated in local schools he was a 1954 graduate of Warren High School, where he played basketball, baseball and loved a good joke. Raye served 12 years in the U.S. Air Force and traveled overseas while in service to his country. Returning to civilian life, he made his home in West Rockport.
It was there he met and married his best friend and love of his life, Sandra F. Bragg. Together they raised three children, Ricky, Tommy and Pammy Sue. Raye was always thankful for the privilege to serve as Cub Scout Leader for his sons.
Raye and Sandy loved to travel and made many memories on trips with his sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Buddy Bragg. They enjoyed camping in Washington, D.C., Disney Land with their grandchildren, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where accidently, his best friend Dan, was laid to rest in Raye’s best suit. Raye’s last trip was cross country in a tractor-trailer, driven by his son Tom.
They enjoyed two weeks and many miles together with countless memories made. In later years, Raye enjoyed two weeks in August at Camp Washington, where he spent many hours sitting on his front porch watching his grand and great-grandchildren, playing in the sand and getting dirty. After retirement, Raye ventured out every morning for a hot cup of coffee with his many friends at Tolman’s Market.
It goes without saying that Raye loved his Lord and served Him faithfully. Over the years, Raye worshipped in several local churches and most recently was an active, founding member of Breakwater Baptist Church in Rockland. Other than his parents, Raye was pre-deceased by a brother, Neil Colburn, and a sister Lois Bragg.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandra Colburn of West Rockport; two sons and their wives, Richard and Ann Colburn of Winthrop, Thomas and Carol Colburn of Friendship; a daughter and her husband, Pamela and Chris Jameson of Waldoboro; nine grandchildren, Chad and his wife Amanda, Timothy and his wife Erica, Charity, Chris, Britain, Grace, Josie, Addie and Lucy; 11 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and extended family members, as well two special cousins and their spouses, Royce and Dot Carroll of Rockport, Cynthia and Bob Haberland of Texas. Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. , Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
A Celebration of Raye’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 1st, at West Rockport Baptist Church, 545 Park Street. Raye’s grandson, Pastor Chad Colburn will officiate. Interment will be in Mt.
Pleasant Cemetery, Warren. Those who wish may make memorial donations to Breakwater Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1102, Rockland, ME 04841. To share a memory or story with Raye’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.
bchfh.com.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
