Raymond C. PetersonApril 6, 1922 - April 11, 2009Raymond Carl Oscar Peterson 87, passed away Saturday.He was born in Holdrege, Neb., to Oscar Vernal and Edith (Gustafson) Peterson, the middle child, and only son.  At the age of 15, during the height of the depression, the family moved to Denver for work. As the family struggled financially, Ray took any job he could to help out, doing things such as paper routes, working in hotels cleaning rooms and windows and eventually he worked in a paint factory.At the age of 21 he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  This changed his life from that day forward.  While at church he met Majorie McMurrick and on July 3, 1946 they were married.      In the fall of 1946, Raymond and Marjorie moved out to Oregon, and found employment in a plywood mill on Hill Street in Albany.   That job helped lead him to a career with the American Plywood Association, where he stayed for 27 years.  Work moved them briefly to Northern California, but they eventually settled in Eugene.    Ray enjoyed building things.  He also had a love for bicycling since he was a child, and he taught each of his kids to ride.    He was probably best known in the neighborhood for his garden.  "Farmer Pete" was his nickname.    He was also an amateur musician, conducting harmonica and yodeling concerts joined by brother-in-law, Bob, with the dogs howling in the background.After retirement, Ray and Marge became snowbirds and began to travel south for the winter.    In 1995 they settled once agian in Albany. Ray was a hard worker and cared about the needs of others.  He had a quick wit, and active sense of humor.  He loved his grandkids, and often took them for bike rides along the many pathways in Eugene.  He loved his Lord, and served him in any capacity he could, from the Gideon's, to speaking at the Eugene mission, to doing yard work for shut-ins.  He was a hero in the eyes of his children. Ray is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Damascus; daughters Linda Rossi of Portland and  Nancy of Salem; son Larry of Damascus;  sister Ruby Lindsay of Aurora, Col.; 8 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.  He was an Earthly representation of his heavenly Fathers love, and will be deeply missed by those whose lives he touched. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Grace Bible Fellowship in Tangent.  AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).