In Loving Memory of Lt. Col. Ray Levias
Lieutenant Colonel Ray Levias, USAF (Ret.), peacefully departed this life on May
18, 2026, at his home in Tacoma, Washington, surrounded by his loving sons.
He was 77 years old.
Ray was born on May 16, 1949, in Seattle, Washington, to Frank and Vernilla
Irvine Levias. Raised in Seattle’s Central District alongside his siblings Gary,
Nelson, and Joyce, Ray developed the confidence, leadership, and adventurous
spirit that would shape the course of his life. Early in his journey, Ray welcomed
his two sons, Sean and Sheldon, into the world.
Ray attended Seattle Prep High School, graduating with the Class of 1967.
During his years there, he excelled in athletics and student leadership, playing
football, running track, singing in the Glee Club, and serving as freshman class
president. His athletic accomplishments and leadership earned him induction into
the Seattle Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. During his junior and senior seasons, his
football team won back-to-back state championships, and Ray individually
earned First Team All-Western Conference honors.
At just 16 years old, he joined the Merchant Marines, spending his summers
traveling the world between school years. Those experiences helped shape the
discipline, courage, and sense of purpose that later defined his distinguished
military career.
While attending Southeastern Massachusetts University, now known as the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Ray worked for United Airlines before
eventually joining the United States Air Force. He earned a degree in Biology
with a pre-med focus and later completed his master’s degree while serving in
the Air Force. Ray proudly served his country in the Air Force, retiring with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel after a distinguished career marked by dedication,
leadership, and faithful service. During his years in the military, he completed
multiple overseas tours supporting important missions around the world and
served as an ROTC instructor working with students at both Harvard University
and MIT. Following his military service, Ray continued his career at the
Pentagon, where he worked for nearly two decades before retiring.
Driven by his military service and a spirit of adventure, Ray lived in many
different locations across the country and overseas throughout his life. Along the
way, he formed lifelong friendships and touched countless lives through his
wisdom, kindness, humility, humor and unwavering sense of duty.

Ray was also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a brotherhood
whose principles of leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service reflected the
way he lived his life.
During his 49-year marriage to his late wife, Joyce, Ray’s family expanded. He
embraced Joyce’s children, eventually adopting her son, William “Tracy” Leary,
and welcoming her daughter, Cheryl Lynn Willis. He also shared a special bond
with Joyce’s granddaughter, Taaureane Paquette, and took pride in the extended
family they built together over the years.
While life’s paths are often complex, Ray found profound joy and a renewed
sense of purpose in his later years as a grandfather. Watching his family grow
brought him immense pride, and he cherished the opportunities to connect with
his grandchildren, finding a special rhythm in this chapter of his life.
In 2024, Ray was diagnosed with ALS. With the loving support of his family, he
returned home to Seattle, where he spent his final years surrounded by those
who cherished him most. He faced his illness with grace, courage, dignity, and
the same quiet strength that had always defined him. Ray passed peacefully,
surrounded by those closest to him. Being there with their father, holding his
hands as he passed, was one of the most profound and emotional moments of
Sean and Sheldon’s lives. While their hearts are heavy with grief, there is comfort
in knowing he was surrounded by love, dignity, and family in his final moments.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Vernilla Levias; his brother,
Nelson Lee Levias; his sister, Joyce Levias Edmondson; his beloved wife, Joyce
Levias; and his stepdaughter, Cheryl Lynn Willis.
Ray is survived by his brother, Gary Lane Levias; his sons, Sean (DeAndrea)
Levias and Sheldon (Lucia) Levias; his adopted son, William “Tracy” Leary; his
grandchildren, DeAndre, Lamika, JaVon, Cierra, Daija, Anjae, TreSean,
Samantha, Diego, Erza, and Taaureane; and his great-grandchildren, Egypt and
JaeSean, and many beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The family asks that Ray be remembered not only for his military service, but
also for the love, guidance, encouragement, and strength he shared

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