Raymond VanDeWarker

Raymond Arthur VanDeWarker

August 1, 1936 ~ April 22, 2016

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you…

The story of the full, magical and beautiful life of Raymond ‘Ray’ Arthur VanDeWarker began on August 1st, 1936 in the pocket-sized town of Allen, Nebraska. Ray was the second of seven darling children born to Arthur Raymond VanDeWarker and Blanche Marie Stokes. There was Ray and Roberta, Wesley and Clara, Carol and Pat, the last was Joan Marie – enough kids to shake a stick at.

One minute I’m in Central Park, then I’m down on Delancy Street…

As a young and venturesome boy, Ray traveled a bit. From Allen, Nebraska, Ray spent time in the quaint town of Grants Pass, Oregon. Later on he found himself in Stanton, California, eventually graduating from Anaheim Union High School where he exceeded in junior varsity baseball, as well as football - and this isn’t even the best part of the story…

A whole new world. A dazzling place I never knew…

Our story leaps forward to the year 1955 when Ray and his best friend, Bob Penfield applied for jobs at a little known theme park called Disney Land. Call it fortuitous, call it serendipity, call it happenstance, but Ray found a job in a world he would love his whole life. Ray started his career as a ride operator. As the operator of Jungle Cruise, old Walt Disney himself would often ask Ray to give him a spin before the park opened for the day. Ray and Walt would come to know each other through their tête-à-têtes. Whenever celebrities visited the park, old Walt would seek out Ray just so he could meet them. After 12 years as a ride operator, Ray moved into management – with rather whimsical side duties. On four different episodes of the Mickey Mouse Club, Ray was known as ‘Catfish Jones’, a tour guide for the Mouseketeers as they trekked through Frontierland. After 41 years, Ray retired from Disney Land in 1996. To this day, above the Mad Hatter Shop on Main Street Disney Land, you can visit Ray’s window. Still, this isn’t even the best part of the story. That comes next.

I know you. I walked with you once upon a dream…

Ray met Lois Catherine Sauer through his cousin June while living in Oregon. They courted briefly, but Ray left for California not long after. Ray just couldn’t get Lois out of his mind. She was the book he couldn’t put down. After he moved to California, Ray figured he wouldn’t see Lois again…but love always seems to find a way. While Lois was visiting a relative in California, she went to Disney Land and found Ray. Their romance quickly sparked up again and Ray married Lois, the love of his life, in Las Vegas on May 15th 1958. Lois had a child from a previous marriage, Donald. Ray loved Donald like he was his own (a trait from which many others benefited) and adopted him when he was one year old. Not long after they were married, in 1959, Ray and Lois had a daughter. They named her Lori Elaine.

An enchanted moment, and it sees me through, it’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you…

In 1968, the VanDeWarker family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Ray served in many callings and especially loved his work at Ogden Regional Family History Center. Ray and Lois were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple for all time and eternity. Together Forever.

Well, Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherazade had a thousand tales…

It goes without saying Ray had many friends. He and Lois had a group of best friends they called ‘The Crew’. The Crew comprised of Kimmi and Benson Olsen, Bob and Connie Suggs, Patty and David Chalk, as well as Dean and Nedra Bowles. Ray, Lois and The Crew did everything together. They shared a houseboat, bought a cabin at Lake Arrowhead and travelled far and wide to Hawaii, Florida, even Japan. Ray and the boys sure did love fishing and went on a couple fishing trips to Alaska. Ray even taught his great grandson, Jackson how to fish while on a trip in Oregon.

I’ve got no strings to hold me down…

The first home Ray and Lois ever bought was in east Anaheim, California. They resided there until 2000 when they up and moved to Clinton, Utah. Because Ray brought so much light to everyone who knew him, everyone just didn’t like the idea of having him so removed from their lives. So, naturally, everyone moved to Utah to be close to Ray and Lois. Lori Elaine came first, bringing her whole family with her in 1993 anticipating her parents moving to Utah. Their granddaughter Catherine, who Ray and Lois took into their home in 1993 to raise through high school, moved to Utah in 2001, shortly thereafter her in-laws the Palmers built their home nine houses away from Ray & Lois. Then, slowly, but surely everyone else followed. Grandchildren and great grandchildren filled up every nook and cranny in Ray’s and Lois’ life. Christmas Eve with Ray and Lois was a yearly tradition everyone, young and old, eagerly anticipated. As time began to slow down Ray, his grandson Keith and Keith’s wife, JoAnna moved in with Ray and Lois to care for them the way they cared for everyone else.

Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities…That’s why a bear can rest at ease…

In Ray’s retirement years, aside from continuing with his genealogy work, he got mighty serious about wood working. Ray made several cradles for his grandchildren to use for his great grandchildren. Ray also crafted dozens of beautiful pens as well as a case to hold his dear Lois’ collection of pins, buttons and Disney memorabilia.

There's far too much to take in here, more to find than can ever be found, but the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round…

As with every great story about a magical man, an end must come. Raymond ‘Ray’ Arthur VanDeWarker died peacefully in his sleep on April 22nd, 2016. Ray is survived by the many lives that revolved around the wonder of the man: His son, Donald Lee Hernes (VanDeWarker) and Donald’s wife, Gina Hernes, Ray’s daughter, Lori Elaine Miller (VanDeWarker) and Lori’s husband, David Gerald Miller. Of course, there are all of Ray’s grandchildren: Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer (VanDeWarker), Adam VanDeWarker, Keith Miller, Amy Tadeo (Miller), Heidi Miller, Charlie (Dorothy) Miller, Denyeill VanDeWarker, Dawn VanDeWarker, Montana VanDeWarker and Raylin Gomen, who Ray always loved as his granddaughter. Then there are the great grandchildren: Jozelle VanDeWarker, Braidyn VanDeWarker, Jackson and Lucas Palmer, Alora and Christopher Tadeo, Ellie and Hudson Miller, along with his honorary great grandchildren, Alexis Padilla, as well as Peter and Thomas Gomen. Most importantly, Ray is survived by his love, his treasure, Lois Catherine VanDeWarker (Sauer) who always held the key to the empire of his heart.

Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and pulls you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.

For all those who wish to honor Ray’s life, funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Clinton 3rd Ward Chapel, 2223 North 1000 West on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 11 a.m. The family will meet with friends prior to the services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Clinton City Cemetery.