Raymond Knowles

Raymond Pearce Knowles

March 12, 1933 – April 14, 2017

Ray passed away quietly after final goodbyes with his family, on April 14, 2017. Born March 12, 1933 to Kenneth Baugh Knowles and Helen Gladys Pearce in their modest living room in Ogden, Ray, with few but significant separations, lived life an Ogdenite.

He attended Ogden City elementary and secondary schools, graduating from Ogden High School in 1951. He received degrees from the University of Utah and later from Auburn University, taught English Literature in Ogden secondary schools for a short time, and made a career as a civilian contracting officer at Hill Air Force Base. An accomplished percussionist, Ray performed military service as a member of the 6th US Army Band in San Francisco during the Korean conflict. Thereafter Ray served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission before returning and marrying Colleen Livingston on June 12, 1958, in the Logan LDS Temple. Ray and Colleen created a home which came to be known to family, friends and even strangers as a safe haven filled with beautiful music. Ray and Colleen have enjoyed loving companionship for 59 years.

Ray blessed his family by always following the Lord Jesus Christ no matter where that might take him. As a young father he followed that guidance in taking his family to Japan from 1967 through 1970 with his work assignment, during which time he served as the Central Honshu Servicemen’s District President of the LDS Church. Shortly after returning to the United States he followed that guidance again in a short but significant professional experience with his young family in Montgomery, Alabama. These experiences helped Ray’s children grow closer together and provided the whole family with life changing cultural diversity experiences. Ray himself loved and respected all persons and saw each as a child of God, without regard to culture, color, creed or economic circumstance. At a very young age Ray served as the Bishop of the LDS Ogden 34th Ward, serving many from the perspective of one who could see others as their Heavenly Father would see them. He believed in doing whatever he could to help people heal and strengthen their own family relationships, and fittingly served as a Sealer in the Ogden and Nauvoo LDS Temples. Ray and Colleen served three LDS missions following their retirements, in Kirtland, Ohio, St. George, Utah, and Nauvoo, Illinois Temple.

Ray was known as a quiet giant who lived to serve others as exemplified by his Savior. It was a common observation that “if you want to get to heaven, hitch your wagon to Ray Knowles.” We love and miss Ray, and appreciate his contribution to God’s important work of the salvation of God’s children.

Ray is survived by his wife Colleen, his precious nurturing daughter Nancy, his four sons Jeffrey (Brandie), Scott (Jennifer), Mark (Wendy) and David (Linda), and by all but one of his 17 grandchildren and by all seven of his great-grandchildren, siblings Boyd, Michael, Darrell and Kathy, and many good friends. He was preceded by his parents, Sisters Eleanor and Marilyn, Grandson Matthew, and many other loved ones and friends whom he is now again comprehending and blessing with his goodness.

Ray’s new friends at Encompass Home Care and Hospice and at Mountain Ridge Assisted Living have also been a wonderful blessing to Ray and his Family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Old Post Ward Chapel, 5191 Old Post Rd., Ogden. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.