Mary Ray James

Loa, Utah - Mary Ray James, age 76, died in Loa, Utah on November 11, 2017, on Veteran’s Day. Mary was born in Eugene, Oregon on January 30, 1941 to Harold Lamoin and Ruhama Adair Ray. Growing up, she spent the majority of her youth in Prineville, Oregon. After receiving her diploma from Crook County High School, she attended Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT, and later served as an LDS missionary in the Western States Mission. Upon completion of her mission, she returned to BYU where she met her husband, Stanley Cornwell James. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on July 6 , 1964. Upon graduating, she taught elementary school until becoming a full-time mother of eleven children. Stan and Mary raised their family in Provo and Orem, UT. Mary was a true patriot and veteran in her own right. She loved the constitution and what it symbolized for America. She had a passion for education and was an outspoken advocate for educational improvement and accommodation. She especially loved reading and had a special knack for teaching reading. Later in life, she would be called to serve a mission for several years at the Missionary Training Center, where she taught many Elders and Sisters to improve their reading skills, enabling them to serve effectively in the Lord’s work. Soon after that, she moved to Loa, Utah, and was employed by Loa Elementary School, where she served as a paraprofessional, tutoring children. Throughout her life she was widely known for her genuine sweetness, serving and giving nature, and was an example of a true saint, always willing to sacrifice her own needs to make someone else more comfortable. She was a faithful, committed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served with eagerness in whatever calling she received whether in Scouting, Primary, serving in the Mt. Timpanogus Temple; and greatly assisted in Family History. She dearly loved her family. She was a witness of the hand of the Lord in directing her life, and in helping and supporting her and her family throughout life challenges. Up to her last breath, she bore her witness of the Lord's love for all of her posterity. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ruhama Ray, her brothers, Bill and Dan Ray. She is survived by her sister Nadine Bowen, of Carson Oregon; brothers Bob of Medford Oregon, and Charles, of Pleasant Grove, UT; her children, Susan (Richard) Smith, Orem, UT; Laura (Tony) Millward, Meridian, ID; Carolyn (Darren) Coleman, Copperas Cove, TX; Cathy (Roger) Brian, Loa, UT; David (Erin) James, Lehi, UT; Johnny (Tracy) James, Orem, UT; Steven (Erica) James, Lehi, UT; Amy (Rob) Adams, Spanish Fork, UT; Mary Ann (Ben) Chung-Hoon; Santa Clara, CA; Mike (Debbie) James, Loa, UT; and Jenny (Guy) Foster, Orem, UT. She also is survived by 64 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2017 at the Loa LDS Stake Center, where friends may call for viewing Saturday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Lyman Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.