Lewis Ray Stone

Lewis Ray Stone, 86, died in a Seattle, Washington area nursing home on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. He was the second son born to Viola Pugh and William Stone. He was born in Boone County (Central Missouri) on March 2, 1935.

He had not communicated with family members in Missouri for years. Reach out attempts on the part of siblings failed when his mother, Viola Pugh Stone Diehl passed in 1993.

Lewis was a sailor in the U.S. Navy in circa 1953, stationed in the Philippines. He was married for a time to Sandy of Seattle. After his stint in the Navy, Lewis was involved in several lines of work and for a time, with his wife, operated a Kings Burger franchise in Colorado.

At one time, family members trying to locate Lewis were told he had identified with "Seattle’s homeless community" residing along Seattle’s ocean side shipping docks. He had, however lived in a basement apartment for a time before confined to the nursing home at nearby Renton. He is said to have been placed there because of dementia (memory loss) and other health issues.

Over the past 25+ years he had shared names and stories of past experiences with a close and consistent friend, Barbara, who he met at the church he attended. Upon his death she shared the information with the Seattle Medical Examiner’s Office which was then able to contact nephew Raymond Stone in Oklahoma.

A full sister, Evelyn Mitchell, Columbia, Mo. Is the lone surviving of four children born to William and Viola. In order, they were Raymond Lee Stone (who died following a gun accident in the 1950s); Louis Ray Stone; and Glynn Dale Stone, Antlers, Okla. who died in 2008. Donald L. Diehl of Sapulpa, Okla., and Ronald C. (Bogie) Diehl of Independence, Mo. are half brothers. In addition, Louis is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. His sister Evelyn and other family members are handling final arrangements.

Commital services (scattering of ashes) are tentatively planned in Washington State (by acquaintance there) and in Central Missouri by family members (date and location pending).

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