Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 35
Sign: Scorpio
City: OLYMPIA
State: WASHINGTON
Country: US
Signup Date: 3/13/2006
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Monday, June 23, 2008
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Current mood:  grateful Category: Life
Message by Wanda Borup
Wray and Jean came to Boise to visit Carl and I, probably 18 years ago or more, and we took them for a visit to Sun Valley. We stayed in Mark's condominium. One evening we decided to go down and investigate the clubhouse. There was a short path leading from the condo to the clubhouse. It was very narrow and we walked in single file. Halfway there, we heard this thud. We turned around to find Wray, who was bringing up the rear, had tripped and fallen on his face. We were very upset because he was scratched up and cut and bleeding so we returned immediately to the condo. We spent a quiet evening.
In the morning, we could hear someone singing. Upon investigation, we found it was Wray who was shaving his lacerated face. It had to be very painful. He said, "What's up? What are we going to do today?" We all considered him to be hero!
On this same trip to Sun Valley (we were there for several days), we cooked our own meals since it helped save money. I had brought a recipe of Marilyn's for cold cucumber soup. As we were preparing this, Jean thought it would be amazing and wanted to get the recipe. When we sat down to eat that evening, Wray took a spoonful of the soup. Jean looked at him quizzically, and said "Don't you like this soup, Wray?" He said he was eating it with a very long tooth. At this, Jean explained this was a dinner code that they had to let each other know if the food was OK or not. Long tooth was not a good critique but he ate it anyway. Carl and I adopted this term for our own with great enthusiasm and used it on many occasions. And Jean and I at all the soup.
Wray was lots of fun. He and Jean traveled world wide but made us feel that nothing had been more comfortable and fun than that visit to Sun Valley. It was a treat.
Message by Susan and Jerry
Louise,
We are sorry to hear about the loss of your father.
Please know you and Mike are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love Jerry and Susan
Message by Isabella Seeley
My thoughts are with the family at this sad time. I love your daughter, Louise, my daughter-in-law. Wish I could be there with you. Love, Isabella
Message by Shelley
Dear Uncle Wray:
When I think of you I think of strength, not only physical, but strength of heart. I will be eternally thankful to you because you ARE the reason that after 22 years we still celebrate the O'Connor Family at our annual reunions. You are the one that gave Gramps the idea and you are the one that started us all on the journey to really get to know each other through the years. What a blessing you have given us all!
I miss you Uncle Wray and this reunion will not be the same without you, your smile, and your poetry. All my love, Shelley, Carl & Callie
Message by Katy (Underwood) Hess
Dear Borups,
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband and dad. What a great man he was. Of course most of my memories of him are from Germany. One being when he drove us to Italy for spring break. We went camping and had an absolute blast. How he put up with all those women was amazing! He just sort of seemed to glide through life. Another was here when Jeanie and I had lunch with our mothers. Your dad wanted them to ask my mom if my dad really had a cousin named Irving! Apparently, my dad had told that story and your dad never forgot. Well, in case you're wondering, the answer is yes!!! It's true, you were blessed to have him for so long. Your very close knit family is a real testimony to him. I'll be praying for you all. Love, Katy
Message by John Carver, Brother in Law
REMEMBERING WRAY BORUP
John A. Carver, Jr.
17 June 2008
The legions who were friends and associates of Wray Borup during his long life respected and admired him. I've never known anyone to speak ill of him. To all he was the genuine article.
Much of Wray's life was devoted to service to his country, in the military and as a civilian, in the Pacific in World War II, in Viet Nam, and at posts and bases in the United States. His patriotism was authentic.
He outlived most those involved in that side of his life, but to an ever-renewing circle of young people who have special memories of "Uncle Wray" he will never be forgotten. I hope these notes will refresh these memories.
Wray had a deep-seated feeling for "family", and for generational continuity. I think "The Patriarch", Jack O'Connor, would agree that it was Wray's impetus for a reunion of the descendants of Thomas E. and Dorothy Lake L. O'Connor. Think for a moment what that has meant to the Shore family, the Carver family, the Borup family, the O'Connor family itself, now down to the fourth generation.
Wray's affinity and empathy for the young is legendary. He was scoutmaster to my younger brother, and a role-model and second grandfather to one of my grandchildren some sixty years later. Andrew at age eight traveled with Wray and Jean, Ruth and me, on an extended automobile trip to Canada that remains vividly fresh in Andrew's memory.
It raised a lump in my throat to see how Wray's way with kids was carried on in his son Steve. At one reunion Steve took over the evening entertainment for the youngsters, and you would have thought it was Wray himself.
Another example comes to mind of how Wray related to young people. When Annie Norberg graduated from high school Wray asked her what graduation gift she would like. Annie said she wanted him to write a poem for her. Wray's feelings about the importance of an education and his affection for Annie shine through the lines he wrote just for her.
From time to time Wray's circle of admirers was augmented by new or different spouses. It was astonishing and gratifying to see them come under Wray's spell. My daughter-in-law, Luisa, spoke about how impressed she was to hear him read his own poems or from his extended repertoire of Robert Service and others.
Indeed there seems to be a growing tradition of starting marriages on the right foot by exposing the new spouses to an O'Connor Reunion first.
When failing eyesight and hearing was frustratingly isolating Wray, Vince organized a reverse performance --children and grandchildren performing the "Cremation of Dan McGrew". Wray watched intently, then leaning to Ruth said "I think they are honoring me." At the end, the fire came back to Wray's countenance, and he recited the whole poem. It was memorable.
Jeanie should know that many times Wray told me how much he appreciated all she did for so many years to make life easier for him and for Jean.
Jack was "The Patriarch" and Wray was "The Colonel" at all the reunions. Both are now gone, but the bonds they built seem now unbreakable. That is quite a legacy.
Message by Karen & Gary Stroder
I think one of my fondest memories of Uncle Wray was the golf tournament in Sandpoint for one of the cousin's reunions. Uncle Wray was on my team and, although he had trouble seeing the ball, he didn't have trouble hitting it down the middle. I can still see him making his swing and then turning and asking us all if we could see it. We did and it was great fun to have this memory of him. Most of us then went to a local restaurant and had a marvelous lunch and hoisted a few in celebration of a fun day. We'll be hoisting a few ourselves, in honor of Wray and what a hole his passing will leave in all of our lives.
Message by Jenna
My Dearest Grandpa ~
I miss you so much already! I will miss how you would walk in any room with a smile. I will miss how much you flirted with waitresses (Matt's favorite memory), and rather than me being embarrassed, I was proud! I miss our golf outings and how you'd let me drive the golf cart - even though I know you were afraid for your life! I will miss how you would look at my sons with such love in your eyes. I will miss your poems and your songs. I will miss our exchange of chocolate covered cherries at Christmas (for the past 20 some years!!).
You were not only just my grandpa, but my mentor and my friend, and I am so honored to have known you, and was able to spend as much time with you as I did. Thank you for your strong family spirit and for being a man of your word.
I will miss you, Grandpa, but I will never, ever forget you.
Thank you for all you have taught me - for which I will forever be grateful.
I Love you!
Jenna Marie
Message by Marilyn Borup Sword
Uncle Wray was a gentleman of the old school, a charmer and a poet. We had a family reunion in Boise some years back and he and Aunt Jean attended, as they most always did. At dinner one evening, Uncle Wray showed up with long-stemmed red roses for every lady (I use that term instead of woman since that is what he said). It was such a thoughtful thing to do that it endured in my memory. Although we had not seen Uncle Wray and Aunt Jean in some time, I will always remember him in this way. We send much love and our deepest sympathies to Jean, Louise, Jeanie, and Steve and the rest of the famiy.
Message by Molly
Our Big Papa,
I'm sure you'll take a break from your golf game today to read this message! I know the sun is shining where you are and you are smiling down at your family as we gather to honor your life and all you have given us. Above all, you gave us each other and the example of living life to the fullest but always putting family first. Thank you.
You have been there for me at the most important times of my life and I couldn't have asked for more. You always made sure we felt loved every step of the way. I remember when I celebrated my first Mother's Day, you made sure I had flowers too with all the other mom's around me.
How incredible it is that you have been here for the birth of your great grandchildren. Every time you have been around them you have had a smile on your face... you loved being surrounded by all the little ones. It brought you such joy.
Wow, so many memories you have given me... your beautiful yard you always worked hard in, the dinners at your house where as a little girl I'd watch you and my dad play cribbage, your gift of $1 for every year older we were on our birthdays, celebrating our birthdays together, going grocery shopping with you when I was back in school a few years ago, you always making sure we had Easter Lilly's on Easter and hanging baskets in the summer, spending time at the cabin, listening to your poetry and being amazed by your incredible memory.... it goes on and on.
But for now, I can't say good bye. So I'll just say see you later and I love you.
Molly
Message by Bob Dion
Wray Borup was an easy man to know. He was bigger than life. Impossible to ignore and what you saw was what you got. Wray loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved to travel. He was always open to new places and experiences.
He took up golf late in life and played the game with passion well into his 80s. The vacations and the golf games I shared with Wray are times I'll always remember, whether it was playing in the driving rain in Ireland or chasing our run away golf cart into the woods in Vermont.
Wray's sense of humor made him easy to be with. I always looked forward to his jokes no matter how many times i heard them. "Let's get out of these wet clothes and into a dry martini." "Are you working hard or hardly working?" Wray enjoyed going out to dinner, and the stories he told kept the waitress and the table amused...the cuter the waitress the longer the story.
I haven't seen Wray much in the past few years, but I've thought about him often. He was an important and positive part of my life and I loved him. I'll never forget him .
Message by Mida O'Connor
I just cannot describe the overwhelming feeling of loss since I received the news of the passing of Wray. If I would chose to have a Dad - Wray would've fit exactly what I would've chosen for a Dad. I loved him dearly and had wished he, like Jack could've lived forever. What a full and great life he has had - I'm always full of awe each and every time Tom talks about Uncle Wray and how and what he was for him. He and Jean gave us great joy each time their car showed up in Camano - they were always the center of our attention from the moment they showed up. Thanks to him we have our yearly reunions which gave us the opportunity to know wonderful and warm family members that we would not have known otherwise had he not started the ball rolling and carrying it for many years. He had such great enthusiasm, charisma and always a twinkle in his eyes. I'll miss him sorely - wish I had the gift of writing like the descendants of the O'Connors have - but I don't - still I just want you all to know how much I loved, respected and enjoyed Wray. I cannot tell you how sorry we are for not being with you to see him to his final rest, but our spirits, love and hearts are with you.
I'll miss him very much and hoping to meet him again, if I'm lucky, in the hereafter. Love, Mida
Message by Chuck Borup
I have not seen Wray for several years. I had been intending to make another visit and am sorry for my procrastination, but I am now very grateful that I did make that last visit with him
Wray was truly a great man. My earliest memories include times with him and the attention he gave me. Even though I was a very small child who was probably considered to be a pain in the neck by all those who came in contact with me, Wray made me know I was family. Even as a small child I had a keen sense of the importance of family and I am sure his kind actions were a significant factor in the development of the bonds I felt. Even now I can remember the sense of loss when Wray and his family left Boise. It was not many years after that we left Boise also. Throughout my childhood I felt some void, that all was not really right with the world, until such time as all the family was back in their rightful place in Boise again. I would tell my dad about such dreams and he would tell me that was not going to happen, and it was a painful truth that I had to eventually accept.
I remember at about 4-5 years old, standing in the foyer of Grandma Borup's house, and Wray asking me the most perplexing questions such as "What's black and white and read all over." It was just beyond me how it could be the newspaper when he told me the answer. Newspapers were not "red" all over. If that was not bad enough, he then said "Howlong is a Chinaman." I remember holding my hands apart, like you would when showing the size of a fish you caught, and asking "about that long?", not having a clue what he could mean when he said, no, that is his name. Maybe it was the English in me from my mother's side, but it was quite a few years before I figured that one out.
Years later, at family reunions, Wray was still paying attention. He would tease my daughter Mandy with the same kind of nonsense that made the kids love him. Mandy would always talk about Uncle Wray and his shenanigans, and she loved and appreciated him for it. I have read the references to his poetry, and remember the poem he wrote at my fathers death. He has left his mark indeed, and it will live on in the lives of others beyond his immediate family.
My child hood dream of having the family all together again in Boise again will not be realized of course. But little by little, the family is gathering again, and now Wray has joined them. Such a sad loss for us here, but a joyful reunion for those that have gone ... For they have missed their association with Wray. I am in no hurry for that family reunion to include me, and hope it is many years off, but when the time comes, while other may see the little pain in the neck barging in, Wray will make me feel welcome and have some kind of nonsensical question for me and I will be stumped again.
Message by Merrill Gardens at Olympia
Dear Jean and Jeanie: Please accept our deepest sympathy. Though I only met you recently, some of my staff have known your family much longer. I am so sorry for your loss. What a fantastic guy he was and his military service is commendable. May memories of days long past provide you comfort during this difficult time.
Blessings to all of you. Cindy Murr & Judy Warren
Message by Tom O'Connor
How can I really say how I feel. Long before any of you were even a twinkle in his eye, Wray seemed to me to be the biggest, strongest, most handsome man in the entire world and I was lucky enough to get him as an uncle.
That view of him has never changed; his body has of course, but not his mind or his presence. The outward aspects of him have declined over the years, his vision, his hearing, his muscularity, but his absolute love of having a really good lunch with his family, his way of fixing just about anything that needed fixing.... the list of what he still has goes on forever.
And of all of the thousands of memories that I have of him, many of them deal with him reciting poems, particularly Dangerous Dan McGrew, The Barge on the Marge of Lake LaBarge; yes, he was a fan of Robert Service, but he could hold his own with The Boil on Mrs. O'Leary's Bum as well.
Of all of these memories, the absolute top of the list is that of the six of us lined up in front of him several years ago at Camano, reciting a Robert Service poem to him, each of us having one verse and Wray watching intently, lip synching and then....and this is one of the many, many reasons why I love the man so much... telling Louise where she screwed up! He could neither see us nor hear us, but he knew what we were doing and I still get red eyed thinking back on it.
No, I am afraid that people like Wray are not very common now; it seems as if they stopped building that model quite some time ago. The Greatest Generation really is a great deal more than a book marketing gimmick and Wray was the Poster Boy for that Generation. I wish that my kids could have known him as well as you and I have because they too, need somebody to look up to, just as I did and Wray was always my inspiration. I look around now and I don't see anybody to replace him; the world is the lesser for his passing. The sun doesn't shine quite as brightly as it used to.
And for the life of me, I don't know how anybody is going to get the Coleman popup tent to work now; he seemed to be the only guy who could do it flawlessly. I tried to help him once, managed to pinch the electric cord in the extension mechanism and succeeded in electrifying the entire tent, including me. See....Wray really could fix just about anything.
How are we going to do it without him??
Much as I hate these sorts of occasions, I really wish I could be there with you, your mother, and the rest of your family, but I can't; I am here in Cairo. Please give Jean an extra squeeze on my behalf and let her know how much I loved her man.
Certainly there will be military aspects to his burial, a smartly kitted out non-com will hand Jean the precisely folded tri-corner flag that had draped his coffin prior to the burial; a snappy salute, perhaps a volley being fired, most probably a single bugler playing the sweetest, most heart rendering version of Taps we have ever heard.... yes, the visions go on and it makes me morbidly sad to realize that these formal rituals mark his passing with a timeless cadence... and yes, he has earned the right to have every one of them performed on his behalf and it makes me proud to think these are a form of our nation's honoring him for what he really was; a citizen warrior, a loving family man and one of the finest gentlemen that I have ever known, even though his artillery strength coffee really sucked.
We all have to do this, putting our parents to bed for the last time; I did it a couple of years ago with Pop; now its your turn and inevitably, it will be someone else's turn next. The generation is passing quickly and I feel oddly like an orphan with their passing. Its a tough time and it's hard, but somebody has to do it and those of us who are chosen seem to rise to the occasion.
The list of things that I want to say is endless and I could go on forever... and probably will, given enough time. The best thing I think, is to stop here, with just the tip of the iceberg of my feelings showing, leaving the rest dimly sensed below the surface as a presence that is felt rather than seen or heard. Yes, it is better that way. I wish I could be there with you.
Be strong and you can be certain that when the time comes, that odd feeling that you might feel is just my presence, standing to your right, back just a bit, paying my respects as well....
Tom
Message by a cousin in Idaho
Our condolences to your family. My Dad is William M. Borup and was born the same day as David Wray in Manard. I have a really good picture of the two of them at our last Borup reunion in Boise.
Message by Kathleen Warner
Louise & Family,
I am sorry for your loss and am thinking of you. May happy memories bring you all peace.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Message by Cousin Candace
Notes from a proud member of the Third O'Connor Generation:
It is remarkable to read the tributes to my uncle Wray from my many beloved cousins, as they could all have been written from my hand. We must all, growing up, have truly believed him to be the tallest, straightest, handsomest uncle with the deepest, boomingest voice. He was all of that and more.
One thing we cousins share is a profound love and admiration for each of our aunts and uncles in this greatest O'Connor generation. As they begin to fade from our embrace, we feel a little less ourselves, a little less valued on this earth. A kiss on the cheek, given or received, with one of my uncles or aunts as we gathered each August on Camano brought more unabashed joy to me than virtually anything that might have happened the entire previous year.
It is true that many of us (most of us, actually) have insisted upon bringing a potential spouse to our annual O'Connor gathering to be pronounced suitable by this great family; no other endorsement will ever be as cherished. I certainly wanted nothing more than to have my large extended family see my new beau when Kit and I started dating. More importantly, I wanted him to see what life could and would be like for us as we grew old together. I could show him no better example of elders living well than my aunts and uncles and parents.
Another phenomenon for which I and my cousins will always be grateful to Wray and the O'Connors is the strength of the bonds of the second cousins and now third cousins who first met on Camano Island, developing deep and trusted friendships started on the basis of the escapades they shared while their parents were too busy talking, cooking and eating M&Ms to notice what the kids were all up to. The second cousins, with their cell phones, communicate better with each other than they do with us! Their own parents!
Though Wray's voice no longer boomed these last few years, and his eyes could no longer see me, I know and believe his love enveloped me anew every time he laid eyes on me. The tenor of his voice saying, "Hello, Candace," in the very same way for 57 years now, will echo in my memory and warm my heart for the rest of my life.
Jean, Jeanie, Louise, and Steve -- and all of your families: I love all of you, and am with you today and always.
Love, Candace
Message by Franklin Crandall, great-nephew
Uncle Wray,
I, like all those of my generation, will forever remember sitting at your feet in the small living room at Camano and staring so far up at you as you recited your poems. No matter how many times I heard those words, it always gave me a thrill to hear your booming voice recite "The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee." The reunion definitely won't be the same without you but those memories will always live on.
Message by J. Pepi Bruno
I knew "Mr. Borup" in Germany when I was a teenager. He was a mountain of a man, both in physical stature and in character. I, like most teens of that era, thought I was indestructible and I feared nothing or nobody. Well, almost nobody. Mr. Borup ranked second only to my own father in the fear factor category. Steve and I were good friends and Mr. Borup had an uncanny ability to know what we were up to, especially when we were up to no good. He always seemed to be one step ahead of us and I could never understand how he did it, until I myself was the father of a teenage son.
In retrospect, I believe he must have been laughing inside when we presented elaborate excuses to cover our misdeeds. Despite that, he was always fair with me and I admired him tremendously for it.
Mr. Borup was born into a generation that knew the meaning of hardship, poverty and war. Had it not been for men like him, our generation would be goose stepping our way to work every day, or saluting the flag of the rising sun. We can never repay the debt we owe him and others like him.
I remember Mr. Borup as an unassuming, intelligent man of enormous character, steadfastly dedicated to his principles and to his family. Steve, Jeannie and Louise may find some comfort in the fact that they all had the honor of being able to call him "Dad."
Mr. Borup, I salute you, Sir!
Message by Margaret Perkins Christensen
My parents were Wentworth and Margaret Perkins. They owned the Ideal Cleaners at 3117 State Street for many years, and we lived at 1718 North 30th Street in Boise ID across the street from Isabel and Charles Borup. My sister and I always called Isabel "Grandma Borup". We played with Paulette and Charles Borup. I remember going to a wedding (reception) at their home for one of the daughters sometime in the early 1950s. I remember the attic in the home and that we would play up there for hours.
We moved out of our home in about 1958 or 1959 and I do not remember seeing Grandma Borup after that.
I do not remember David but I remember Paul and probably Lenore.
Fond memories of a special time,
Margaret Perkins Christensen
Message by Cousin Bill Borup
To Wray's family,
Iam William Borup , Wray's twin cousin. He was my favorite as were growing up. We were both born on Camas Praire and on the same day. We spent many days at Uncle Charlie's home in Boise
I want to express my sympathy to Jean and her family.
Love, Cousin Bill Borup 1111 Edgemont Rd Emmett, Id 83617
Message by Rosi Kemp Reed
I'm sure you know my thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family today. Someone told me when my father died that now he is with me everywhere I go and in everything around me. I didn't quite understand that until I was driving home from his funeral. I was pleased to read of your father's love for poems...me too! Here's one I believe he would like...
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints off snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn's rain
Do not stand by my grave and mourn
I am the dew-flecked grass at dawn
Where tranquil oceans meet the land
I am the footprints in the sand
To guide you through the weary day
I am still here, I'll always stay
When you wake up to the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there; I did not die
In loving memory of Mr. David Wray Borup...
Love you all, Rosi
Message by Bermeosolo
I was known as Mary Wayne or Pete Myers by this
family. I practilly grew up with them. I would so
like to receive Lenore's address and telephone number.
I also send my sincere sympathy to this entire family.
Message by Heather Shore
Uncle Wray's poetry and his cadence while sharing it with us, is a combined memory I will cherish. Love to all, Heather
Message by Eileen Shore
I keep thinking of Wray's honesty. I was always sure that what he said was exactly what he believed. Never cruel, but so straightforward, a kind of pure heart that is always rare.
I remember at one of the early reunions, when we were just getting acquainted, he told my sister and me about the amazing Louise. He was especially proud of her work at the Bicentennial -- great responsibility and productivity, and well paid besides. Sweet bragging about someone he so obviously adored. And we were, of course, pretty darned impressed with this dynamo of a cousin. As Wray headed into the house, Louise slipped by, and said quietly "Half the money, half the responsibility." Humility runs in the family, it seems.
Wray's role in creating the O'Connor reunion is a gift that enriched lives. And always, at the end of each one, Wray would offer a hug and a kiss and a "love ya" that sent us off in sadness and with faith that we would do it all over again next year. And we will, and there will always be a place at the table for the godfather of it all.
Peace to you, dear man.
Message by Deborah Telesmanic
Louise,
Thank you so much for sharing your Dad's story with us. What a guy! (Not that I'm surprised that you come from greatness.) I'm really sorry I didn't get to know him but I'm so glad you had him in your life. Love to you and your family, Deborah
10:46 AM
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