Raymond S Davis

Ray Davis passed quietly away March 19, 2021 at the age of 92. He was the first born, a sweet blond haired child to Stanley Davis and Elva Cowley the summer of 1928 in their Venice, Utah home.  The school was next door to his home, yet one day he was very late. He was so embarrassed that he was never late again to that school.  His childhood friends were cousins who also lived in Venice where they played on the Sevier River all seasons of the year. Let’s just say that sugar beets were not his favorite plant during his growing up years. World War II brought the world to his life during his teen years, but was missed being sent overseas his senior year by a few months. He graduated from Richfield High School the next year, then on to Logan to attend Utah State University for the next two years.  He was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Southern States Mission.

Returning home before his military service, Raymond started dating Wyona Nordfors from a neighboring town, they wrote each other during his boot camp days in Texas and when he was sent to Cheyenne, Wyoming at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.  They married during his service in June 1951.  After his service was ended, they moved to Salt Lake City with their baby daughter.  The next years were spent increasing his family, going to night school at the University of Utah, building a house in Davis County, and working at Wilson Sporting Goods.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business, Ray became the customer service manager at the Salt Lake City office of the Agri-chemical division of US Steel.  He may have left the farm behind, but he coordinated shipments of fertilizer to golf courses, farm service centers and mines all over the west and Canada for the rest of his business career at USS Agri-Chemicals, LaRoche Industries, and Coastal Chemicals.

Ray served in various ward and stake positions, including Bishop and Stake High Council as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was quiet, a good listener and loved working with youth from toddlers to young adults.  He instructed youth in dance steps, planned church youth conferences for stake and region, taught classes to various ages. During church, he would make handkerchief mice and twin babies to keep us quiet.

Milk was the drink of choice, it could be white, chocolate or buttermilk.  Ice cream and dark chocolate was the choice dessert, mostly mint chocolate chip ice cream (there are those chocolate pieces) and this past year it was joined by root beer float ice cream. Sweet snacks and nuts were great within reach. But not that lowly cucumber, green salads and relish plates must have the cucumbers in separate bowls, they cannot touch the rest of the food.

While building his home in Davis County, Ray researched the best building methods before starting a project.  His basement had drywall under the wood panels unlike most paneled basements of the period.  He put heater vents in the walls on the main floor so the heat blows into the room and not to the ceiling.  An underground sprinkler system was laid before the grass seed was laid.

Ray was very supportive and tried to attend anything involving his children and grandchildren.  He helped move homes, theater items, build sets, house upgrades, planting gardens, working with concessions and even performed on stage, but not as a singer.

Ray is survived by children: Raquel, Bradley{Nicole}, Jansen{Tara}, Ronda{Brad Turnblom};  siblings: Farrell, Clyde{Kathy}, Karen{Max} Turpin;  nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife, parents, his sister Enid, his son Neale, daughter-in-law Joy Kendell Davis, son-in-law Steve Dalrymple, and granddaughter Emily Dalrymple.

Many thanks to the staff at Barton Creek and South Davis Hospice for all the love and support the past few years. He would smile whenever one of the staff would come to his room.

Viewing will be Thursday April 1, 2021 from 6-8 PM at Russon Mortuary 295 S Main, Bountiful, Utah.  Also Friday April 2, 2021 at 9:45-10:45 AM prior to funeral service at 11:00 AM at Orchard 1^st Ward 3707 South 800 West, Bountiful, Utah.  Services will be streamed live, on this obituary site, 15 minutes before services begin.  Online condolences can be shared at https://www.russonmortuary.com/obituaries/