Ramon Andrew Brongil

Ramon (Ray) Brongil was born February 6, 1954 in Tacoma WA to John and Pauline Wertz Brongil. The dimpled blue eyed boy soon displayed an affinity for sports. He set records starting in Junior High in shot put and went on to wrestling and football. He loved music and played percussion. After graduation in 1972 from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, he attended Whitman College on a football scholarship. From there his desire for adventures took him to Southern California where he worked construction to gain residence status in California and then enrolled at California State University Chico to study anthropology. During his stay in southern California he helped with handling the elephants, lions and chimpanzees used for various appearances in the movie industry. Realizing that in order to live, you need money, he left the college scene and started his career with the US Postal Service. During his early years of his career he enjoyed camping and fishing in the Washington rain forest and rendezvousing with the mountain men enthusiasts. He had numerous stories about the encampments.

In 1988 he married his best friend, Jennifer and along with Jennifer he gained a daughter Netty. He met Jennifer while working for the Postal Service and they quickly became an adventurous family. His competitive spirit served him well as he attained the position of Postmaster of Santa Fe, New Mexico after serving in various offices throughout the west. His love of the mountain man era made Santa Fe his ultimate goal for its history and he took advantage of learning about the area while living there.

In 1993, after a reorganization, he chose to leave government service and start his own company. He and Jennifer relocated back to the northwest, choosing to settle in Bandon, Oregon and thus began RayJen Coffee Company. He had a life long love of cooking so he opened coffee shops in Bandon and Crescent City, California. The coffee business allowed Ray and Jen to travel to other countries and tour coffee farms. Ray served as a judge for the Specialty Coffee Industry in various competitions. The coffee community is close and he formed many friendships with producers, importers, roasters and the end consumers. After a stroke he retired from the coffee business and daughter Netty bought the business and continues the family tradition of roasting fine coffee.

His love of cooking extended to the neighborhood as he would make culinary gifts at Christmas time to pass out to the neighbors. His family meals around the table were legendary at holiday time and birthdays. We always said the dining room table was the best investment we ever made as wonderful conversations were held there through multiple generations.  He was always smoking, brining, curing or fermenting some culinary delight.

In retirement he found a new interest in Ham radio and earned his general license with call sign KK7RAY. His tenure with the Coos County radio club was short but again, great friendships were made.

The family would like to thank Pacific Home Health and Hospice and United Homecare Services for their care and friendship over the last few months. We would also like to thank the Bandon Rural Fire Department for their help after a fall and the numerous EMT staff that answered our calls for assistance. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, daughter Netty Taylor (Rob Taylor), grandson Havoc Taylor (Destiny Smith), great granddaughter Layla Ramona Taylor and his favorite pet rabbit Snuffy.

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