Ray Kuykendall

June 6, 1925 - April 20, 2019

Ray Kuykendall, age 93, a long-time resident of Tracy passed away April 20th after a brief illness. Ray was born and raised in Red Oak, OK. His father and mother were Andrew Kuykendall and Barbara Lillar. In 1943 Ray joined the US Army was part of 82nd Airborne, Company K 325th Glider Inf. On his 19th birthday, June 6th, 1944, he glided into Holland. He was in Battle of the Bulge, Germany, France, Holland and Belgium. He was wounded multiple times in combat and awarded 2 bronze stars, a Purple heart and various other war action ribbons. After the war his company was put on Queen Mary and back to New York marching in the Victory Parade down 5th Avenue. Once home he came to California and the bay area and Tracy. He started working in grocery stores in Oakland and Hayward area. In 1950 he married Jackqueline "Jackie" Curren and moved to Tracy in 1968. Ray and Jackie traveled throughout the western US and went back and forth to Oklahoma. They also enjoyed hunting, fishing and horse racing. In 1982 Jackie died in Mexico under going cancer treatments. Ray worked in many of the grocery stores in Tracy, but the longest employment was with CentroMart. During the past 30 plus years Ray was lucky enough to find happiness and true love with his partner Patsy Enyeart. Ray and Patsy took many cruises, several tours throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico and England. They also enjoyed going to California county fairs and various horse racing tracks. Ray was a true gentle man, never saying a bad word, always cheerful, and always a pleasure to be around.