Raymond Arthur Gabelein, 78, died Dec. 14, 2003, on Whidbey Island.

He was born April 24, 1925, on the family’s Bayview farm on South Whidbey. He attended Bayview School and graduated from Langley High School in 1943. He started farming and logging at an early age, and was one of the early loggers on the island. He married his high school sweetheart, Eva Mae Smith, in 1947. They had five children and helped many other young people that they considered part of their family.

Mr. Gabelein enjoyed playing town baseball for the South Whidbey Athletic Club. He and his wife spent many Saturday nights dancing and socializing with friends at the Freeland Hall, Clinton Progressive Hall and the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club. The couple became loyal Seattle Mariners fans and loved listening to and watching the broadcasts. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. His many friends would stop by the farm to hear his many stories and repeated jokes.

He enjoyed working on the farm his entire life. According to his family, his greatest passion, other than the farm and his family, was hunting with family and friends throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alberta, Canada.

Among his many contributions to the South Whidbey community include founding with his wife and leading the South Whidbey Centaurs Horse 4-H Club and many years of service to the Island County Fair, where the couple was honored as grand marshals and the antique barn was named for him. Mr. Gabelein was a director of the South Whidbey Board of Education, he volunteered for many years as an Island County District 1 Diking and Drainage commissioner, he managed and coordinated teen dances at Bayview Community Hall, was a proprietary member and Easter egg hunt coordinator and president of the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club, was on the Bayview Cemetery board, and was a member of the National Rifle Association.

According to his family, he was a strong advocate for private property rights involving land-use issues, and he was instrumental in the preservation of Bayview Community Hall and the Bayview School.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eva Mae; children Gary Gabelein and his wife Janie, Bonnie Altenburg and her husband Michael, Ray E. Gabelein and his wife Laurie, Albert Gabelein and his wife Lori, Sandy Marshall and her husband, Rob; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Tillie Hansen of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and many sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Whidbey Assembly of God Church, followed by a graveside service at Bayview Cemetery and a celebration of his life at Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club.

In his memory, a Raymond A. Gabelein Scholarship fund has been established for students graduating from South Whidbey High School. Memorial contributions may be made to that fund at any South Whidbey branch of Whidbey Island Bank.

Arrangements are by Visser Funeral Home, Langley.