Update on Lasher

[coolhandluke]

Several members of OSA periodically contact me to check on Lasher so I figured that I would share the unfortunate post below from 1911 Addicts by Bob Atkinson of Cherokee Hills Custom Grips. As many of you know, Ray was a huge fan of Bob's work and the two had become close friends over the recent years.

Ray Johnson (aka our "Swampgas") of Edmond OK, passed away February 17th in Little Rock AR. I hadn't been able to contact him in some time, and was finally able to make contact with a life-long friend of his in Edmond who gave me the bad news. Ray had moved to Little Rock just a few days before he died...he told me he was moving so he could spend his last days with his daughter and her family. The move took a huge toll on his body, more than it could handle. This is by no means a eulogy, but I thought I would share a little about him with our fellow addicts. We never met in person, but we talked frequently during the last few years. We had plans to meet at the Tulsa gun show one year but both of us had to cancel. Ray was a Vietnam era Marine, and was wounded there. Got shot. Got blood. Got tainted blood. Got hepatitis. Got liver cancer. Not long after we started collaborating on grips he went on hospice care, and refused further treatment for his stage 4 liver cancer. He said he was tired of being poisoned and poked by the VA. He had a sharp wit, and some of his comments here on the forum were very pointed. He said he knew he was slipping, though, when he let a post slide that would normally have resulted in him metaphorically tearing off strip of hide....somebody had tried to school him on the M14, a weapon that he humped through the Mekong Delta. He said he didn't have the energy to "correct his misapprehensions", if I remember right. Oh,wait, he said the dude had his head up his a....never mind. I found him to be highly intelligent and well-informed on a broad range of subjects. Some of his interests were reflected in the grips he commissioned. Anybody who loves dragons, Lord of the Rings, music and hummingbirds can't be all bad, right? He was instrumental in starting the charity fund raiser for my great-nephew Wilder Williamson, donating the materials that I used to make the special "Wilder" series grips. I'm forever grateful to him and to all of you who helped or wanted to help during that time. Against long odds Wilder is home, by the way, a situation that brought Ray joy. He wished to keep his participation anonymous, but I'm now choosing to honor him. I'll show one set of grips here that he commissioned, one of his favorite sets, and it represented who he was. He specifically wanted the pins arranged as a cartouche. These are miniatures of the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Service ribbons, with his stripes at center. Ray was my friend, and I will miss him. Go with God, Ray Johnson. Bob View attachment 732274

Rest in peace Ray. I am honored to have known you and to have been able to call you a friend.

 

[Hodrod]

I wish I would have known him...

 

[Shadowrider]

I was wondering about him the other day. I figured he'd fell too ill to be posting or the worse. RIP...

 

[druryj]

R.I.P. Ray, Semper Fi.

 

[tRidiot]

I hadn't talked to him in a while... more than 6 months. I used to stop by and visit and try to keep in touch. I lost touch during the COVID pandemic, as many of us did with lots of stuff.

He was a bit of a crotchety coot. But he had some interesting stories, lived a long life and was a vet. Rest In Peace, brother, I'm sorry I dropped off the radar.

 

[xseler]

Ray actually gave me a copy of one of Eric Clapton's concerts in Japan. Evidently Ray was friends with one of Eric's travelling sound board men --- it was recorded by the soundman!

RIP

 

[Perplexed]

I had the good fortune to do a deal with Ray a couple years ago, when he was still healthy enough to get out and about. Sad to hear of his passing.

 

[dennishoddy]

Met him at H&H one day. He was an opinionated cuss, but highly likeable in his journey through this forum.
A couple of his threads still exist.
RIP Ray.

 

[Catt57]

 

[Snattlerake]

I met him and liked him instantly. He was a very likeable guy if you could be a little patient with him. God bless you Ray.

EDIT
I'd really like to see those grips!