The Life of Ray Milburn Green: The Oldest Resident of Mesa County

Ray Milburn Green was Mesa County's oldest resident. Here's what you should know about the life of Ray Milburn Green, who passed away at the age of 107.

The oldest resident of Mesa County was Ray Milburn Green. He recently passed away on May 5 at the age of 107. Ray Milburn Green was born in 1912 in Arkansas. His family moved around a whole lot and he ended up spending time in Montrose, Glenwood Springs, Durango, and Grand Junction, according to the Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado's Facebook.

In 1938, Ray moved to Fruita and started working for the Works Progress Administration. He worked on the Rim Rock Drive project at the Colorado National Monument, and was a draftsman, timekeeper, surveyor, secretary, and general flunky, according to the Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado's Facebook.

in 1940, Ray started helping build airbases and landing strips during WWII. He then helped design big irrigation projects in places such as Vega Dam and Ridgway Reservoir. According to the Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado, one of the highlights of his career is that he drew a huge map of Glen Canyon, which was presented to Congress while voting on whether to create Lake Powell.

Ray lived a great, full life and was very proud and happy that he married Marry Ann in 1938. They were together for almost 70 years before she passed away. Ray lived in his own home until he was 104, according to the Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado's Facebook.

Ray even has his own day, which is October 12 (Ray's birthday), and was signed off by the mayor of Fruita. The picture you see is from 2016. According to the Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado's Facebook, it was taken at the launch party for 'Legendary Locals of Fruita' and Ray is in the book and on the front cover.

Ray Milburn Green is legendary in Western Colorado and we can only imagine the type of stories he had.