Ray Arno

April 22, 1934 – Oct. 14, 2020

Longtime Homer resident Mr. Ray Arno died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2020 at Christian Community Church in Homer.

Ray was born April 22, 1934 in Havre, Montana to A.W. and Vicki Arno. When Ray was five, they moved to Kalispell, Montana. He graduated from Flathead High School. He attended Crown College and then received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University. At age 18, Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He never deviated from his intense desire to serve and to share his faith.

In 1957, Ray married Petrea Madsen. They had four children, Rae Marie, Michael, Peter and Faye Michelle. Their first full-time pastorate was in Boyceville, Wisconsin. Then in December 1959, they drove the Alaska “Alcan” highway to Homer, Alaska. He pastored the Christian Community Church for 34 years. He bought an airplane and began ministering on the Kenai and Alaskan Peninsulas. He founded Alaska Village Missions, Alaska Bible Institute, and with the help of David Becker added nine different area translators for Moody Radio. He was a pastor, logger, pilot, fisherman and a trucker.

Ray was predeceased by his parents and his brother Jim.

He is survived by his wife Petrea; four children; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; his sister, Lillian Hoverdick, and her family of Wyoming.

Condolences and memorials may be sent c/o Petrea Arno, 1295 Mission Road, Homer, AK 99603