Ray Austin Read

Ray Austin Read peacefully passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023. He was born January 13, 1933, in Hooper, Utah to Gilbert Lavern and Melba Jones Read.

He married Joyce Loveland in the Salt Lake Temple on June 24, 1957, and most recently celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary. Ray lost his sweetheart in February and missed her dearly. He truly loved Joyce and was completely devoted to her. The way he treated and loved her will be a lasting legacy to his posterity.  

Dad spent most of his life working diligently at multiple jobs and spending quality time with his family. He and Joyce served for many years in the Ogden Temple, and they served as senior couple missionaries in Minnesota and Michigan. He served in many church callings and shared his testimony of the Gospel in action; he was a faithful home teacher and served widows in the Ward by providing lawn care and snow removal for many years. He was a man of few words, taught his family the value of hard work, and was admired for his honesty and integrity—values that were important to him. 

Dad was employed with and retired from Hill Air Force Base. He was also a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

Ray is survived by his eight children: Jill and David Pickup, Keith and Sally Read, Kirk and Marti Read, Cindy and Steven Smith, Ann and Tony Dato, Neil and Callee Read, Craig and Kimberly Read, and Alane Read; 30 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. 

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce; his parents; a brother, Lorin Eugene Read; sisters, Bette Kidd and Jeannette Fife; two grandchildren, Brooklyn Pickup and Brittney Marie Read; and two great-grandchildren, Declan Craig Read and Cade Ryan Pickup.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, July 15, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at the Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary, 869 South 2000 West. A brief viewing will be held prior to the funeral service from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Interment at the West Point City Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared, and live streaming of the services may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Ray’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com.

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