Ray A. Christensen

We celebrate Ray A Christensen, who, after a long life of beating the odds and fighting until the end, left this life on April 23, 2015.
He was born July 17,1927 to Edward Marion Christensen and Marie Elizabeth Miller Christensen in Garfield, Utah. He had 11 brothers and sisters that delighted in his sense of humor and fun. He loved telling people that he had three twin brothers. On Feb. 24, 1948 he married Phyllis Lublin, the beautiful girl he was smitten with in a choir class at Granite High when he had returned from serving in the Navy during WW II. They delighted in the birth of their children Gregory Ray (Sharman Rae McDaniel), Cathy (Barrie Campbell), Brent (Marlene Nielsen), Janet (Jared Gleue), and Sharon. Ray and Phyllis have 24 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren that are the joy of their lives. Ray's birthday was always the occasion to meet at Bear Lake for a family festival and celebrate his birthday. He sang lead in the Beehive Statesman Barbershop Chorus for over 20 years, loved traveling with them, and was in charge of the horseshoe pits every year at the Nephi Campout. His family enjoyed listening to him harmonize and camping while hearing harmonies at the various camps in the night.
He was a faithful member of the LDS Church and did not ever hesitate to share his strong testimony with others. He was a 'Home Teacher Extraordinaire' as can be attested to by the many people whose lives he touched. He was a faithful Temple worker for many years at the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temples and was saddened when he was not strong enough to continue serving there. He served his neighbors both summer and winter with mowing, trimming, weeding, and snow clearing. There was never a person who was not his friend and never a person who he was not willing to forgive and increase in love for them. Ray and Phyllis had their children disputing over their presence for holidays, and Christmas will be empty without him reading the Christmas story from the Bible.
Toward the end, he was so grateful for the gentle care given by his family and of the Rocky Mountain Hospice staff, Keith, Callie, Heather and the others who shared their skills with him. It was great to hear Keith and Ray laughing when he was getting his shower that made him feel so much better. If there were a message that he would leave for all of us, it would be to love much, share all, believe fiercely, and be real.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. April 28, 2015 at the Bountiful 20th Ward Chapel 102 East 1400 South, Bountiful, Utah following a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45. A viewing will also be held at Russon Brothers Funeral Home 295 North Main Bountiful, Utah April 27, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m.