Raymond Richard Conners III

Born January 14th, 1947 to Ray and Frances Conners, "Rick" graduated from Good Shepherd School, followed by Loyola High School and Loyola University in Los Angeles. During the Vietnam War, Rick served honorably in the United States Army Reserves, earning the rank of Staff Sgt.
On September 13th, 1969, he married the love of his life, Cristi Noel, and were blessed with three children, Ricky, Sarah, and Megan.
His professional achievements include winning seven national and international awards for his work as a writer and producer of the television documentary series "CROSSFIRE".
Rick was an avid amateur radio operator, making friends and listening to other people's stories all over the globe. He has spoken to every continent, save one. Rick has even sold a home or two because he was not permitted to build a tall enough radio tower. He was Vice President of the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club. His call signs were: WA6ZYG, AH6HZ and WA7ND. Silent key.
In 1987, he moved his family from California to Hawaii where he became a real estate agent but later found another passion and joined the scuba diving charter business, proudly earning the moniker "Captain Rick". He was a NAUI scuba instructor and boat captain, with a parrot named Kahili perched upon his shoulder when he got home. He rehabilitated marine life like octopuses and humuhumunukunukuapuaa (with permission from the Hawaiian government and her people) but destroyed centipedes in the microwave on a regular basis.
In 1996, after his two oldest children left for college, he and his family returned to the Mainland and retired on a ranch in Bend, Oregon. Rick named the ranch "Thunder Paws" after his golden retrievers and love of Notre Dame football. Rick was thrilled beyond measure to give his wife the horses and room to ride them she had always wanted.
Rick was proud to serve as a Deschutes County Deputy Sheriff.
In 2000, Rick's first grandchild, Emily was born to Sarah and Darrin. She was followed in 2004 by her brother and Rick's first grandson, Sam. The grandchildren called him "Papa" and he proved everyday he would be the best Papa any child could ask for. To the entire family's delight, Rick was given his third and fourth grandchildren on the same day in 2013 when twins Aurora and Diana were born to Megan and Jeremy.
In 2020, he, his wife Cristi and their two dogs moved to his "dreamhouse" in Poulsbo, WA. Their son Rick moved with them to help Cristi care for Rick as his health declined.
Following a long and valiant struggle, at 6:03 PM on November 27th, 2021 Rick succumbed to COPD.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Christi, his three children, Rick and husband Yunpeng, Sarah and husband, Darrin, Megan and husband, Jeremy, his four grandchildren, Emily, Samuel, Aurora and Diana, a brother Michael, and two sisters, Belinda and Lucy.
Visitation for family and friends are held at The Stone Chapel Poulsbo Mortuary on Thursday, December 9th from 4-7pm.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, December 10th at 12:00am at St. Olaf Catholic Church with a Rosary at 11:30am.
Donations would be greatly appreciated in his memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
The husband, father, Grandfather, and friend is greatly missed. May God bathe him in His love and grant him eternal rest and peace.