JANUARY 28, 1932 – MARCH 25, 2022
Raymond H. Churchill was born January 28, 1932 and raised in the Rago community southeast of Brush, Colorado. Growing up in the 30’s was a tough time. Ray grew up on a farm where parts of the country were reeling from the effects of the dust bowl. Agriculture was hardest hit when topsoil disappeared from extreme wind and no rain. Ray suffered through the “dirty thirties” with the additional burden of hay fever and asthma. His mother would wet towels and rags to stuff in the cracks under the doors and windows to keep the dust out and to keep Ray breathing. When his father was badly burned while repairing a broken down tractor; with help from a neighbor, Ray and his older brother took on all of the farm chores including milking, feeding and tilling the ground. As his dad was recovering in the hospital, Ray’s mom had an appendix attack. Ray and his brother then were required to take care of their 3 younger sisters as well as the farm until their parents were able to return to the farm.
The family moved to Denver, where Ray and his brother found work in their teenage years milking goats and caddying at a newly developed golf course. Ironically, Ray did not pick up the sport of golf in his later years.
Speed was exciting and exhilarating especially if Ray could find something with wheels that he could drive to the limits. He rode motorcycles and delighted in giving rides to his sister and mother in which they would never forget. Flying down a steep slope and jumping the root cellar, his sister and mother holding on for dear life and screaming for him to stop. Ray loved his Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles. Later as the need for a car became a necessity, Ray would fix up and modify an old car to his liking with hardly any money. He was always proud that he could make a broken down car run again.
Ray and his friend traveled to Cody, Wyoming and spent a year cutting firewood and hauling sheep manure to wealthy customers to spread on their lawns. This necessitated fixing up an old truck; however, they could only afford scrounged and used parts. Over his lifetime Ray probably owned nearly every make of car and truck; Ford, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, GMC and Chevrolet. Ray traded cars/pickups often and kept them clean, shiny and dependable.
Ray married Patty Reese on December 22, 1951. There were many opportunities for men who did mind getting their hands dirty and use the muscles God gave him. Ray found working in the oil field on drilling rigs to his liking. He and his bride moved frequently to new locations as they followed new oil discoveries. They pulled a trailer behind their car from Colorado to Texas to Nebraska to Wyoming and Utah. Dark night shifts, long hours, dangerous rig operations and dirty work was the norm; yet making many friends along the way. They enjoyed their friends by fishing, camping, playing cards and traveling together.
After spending many years in the oil field Ray created several successful mobile home business; Ray’s Mobile Home Service, Colorado Mobile Home Service and Ray’s Pilot Car Service. Many of his customers considered him an expert in the mobile home business and they would not use anyone but Ray. Ray placed mobiles home in places where they said, “it could not be done”. He was proud that his work ethics and work quality always brought him “repeat customers”.
Later in life, Ray said many times he enjoyed being able to get up and go whenever they wanted to, reflecting back on traveling in his younger years. Ray and Pat relied on each other to make it through the bad times as well as the good. You could not think of Ray without Pat, it was always “Pat and Ray” in any conversation about them. They were united in everything they did in life. Pat supported Ray in all his businesses and it was rumored that she could out fish him too.
Ray and Pat lived a loving full life, challenging at times, growing stronger with God and through the trials and the many illnesses he endured. In fact, they were married for 69 years before she passed away suddenly on September 17, 2021. Ray had high expectations of himself and others, gaining the respect, fortitude and perseverance that made Ray the husband, father, grandfather and friend revered by many. He regularly said, “If you start something you must finish it to the best of your abilities despite your fears and inexperience”.
Ray and Pat enjoyed their 2 married children, Jeff Churchill (Jane Churchill) and Jolee Nielsen (Greg Nielsen), his 5 grandchildren (and spouses) and 16 great grandchildren (and spouses).
Ray is preceded in death by 2 sisters and 1 brother. Ray has one surviving sister; Sharlene Loose (Dennis Loose).
Ray will be sadly missed.
