Raymond Louis Beaver

Raymond Louis Beaver went to the Lord on March 28, 2017. He passed away from complications due to Parkinson’s disease at age 84. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Meadowlark Country Club. Cremation is in the care of O’Connor Funeral Home. He was born January 14, 1933 in Missoula, Montana. He finished his schooling in Helena, Montana. In 1949 he fought the Mann Gulch Fire at the Gates of the Mountains. In 1951, right after high school, he followed his brothers into the US Navy during the Korean War. He served on the USS Kearsarge until 1955. When he returned to Helena, he started working for Mountain Bell Telephone where he worked for 35 years retiring in 1990. He moved to Great Falls shortly after and married Sherry; they raised three beautiful daughters – Randi, Tracy and Keri. Ray was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the ELKS Club, Great Falls Advertising Federation (GFAF), Fortnightly for more than 40 years, the Telephone Pioneers, Couples Symphony Bridge and a visitor to Victory Christian church. He and his wife enjoyed volunteering in the community and did for Roadrunner’s Track Club, CMR Vigilantes, GFAF’s Russell Auction from 1969-2010, Missouri River Manor, Benefis, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Commodity Foods and the Nature Conservancy of SW Florida. In the 1980s and 90s, they escorted many trips for Anderson Elerding Travel. In their retirement years, they loved to travel and dance. Ray’s greatest love, besides his family, was their Holter Lake cabin. Many manual labor hours of love were spent on the landscaping. Ray played with family and friends boating, swimming, waterskiing, fishing, horseshoeing and all that beautiful life. Family spent summers here growing up and it is where he still loved to spend time. In 1994 he and Sherry became snowbirds wintering in southern Florida just 6 blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. He walked to the beach every day for picnic lunch and swims, becoming a true “beach bum”! Family and friends were always welcome at his 3 homes. He had a life richly blessed with love and laughter and service to the Lord as shown by his values, character, kindness and example. Ray will always be our RAY of sunshine and is survived by his wife Sherry; daughters Tracy Beaver Sparks (Robert) and Keri Beaver Langille (Vern); grandchildren Heather Evans, Paydn Evans, Courage Louviere; sisters Barbara and Charlene; brothers Richard and Ron (Marty); sister-in-law Helen and many nieces and nephews Amanda, Chuck, David; Hu and Pasty, Sami and Zadin; Tasha; Laurie; Kathy, Jeannie, Joanne; Jeff, Laura and Chris; Yogi, Rich, Chris, Robert, Suzie, Lisa, Raymond, Judy, Mimi, Lori and Susan. Ray was preceded in death by daughter Randi Rae; three brothers, Bob, Bevo (Larry) and Berk; a sister Beverly and nephews, Tim and Van. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peace Hospice, PO Box 7008, Great Falls MT 59406-7008.