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Obituary Detail

February 26, 1938 March 04, 2019
February 26, 1938 -- March 04, 2019

Francis Ray Jensen, Age:81

F. Ray Jensen passed away on March 4, 2019 in McKinney, Texas of complications due to lymphoma.  He was born in Price, UT, on February 26, 1938, to Dorral and Maree Jensen and had an older brother, William D. Reese, and younger brother, Bliss Jensen.  He lived in Castle Dale, Utah, through the 9th grade, after which the family moved to Granger, Utah. Ray graduated from Cyprus High School in 1956. He then attended the University of Utah, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1960.  


In June of 1960 he married Elizabeth Radmall (they were later divorced) and they escaped snowy Utah for sunny California.  After four years there, Ray accepted a job with Hercules in Magna, Utah, and he and Beth moved to Granger, Utah. Soon after, they welcomed their first child, Lisa. While working and caring for his small family, Ray attended graduate school at the University of Utah and received his Master of Science in engineering. Their daughter Jill was born and Ray decided to continue his education, eventually earning a Ph.D. In civil engineering from Brigham Young University.   Although he attended BYU, he remained an ardent supporter of the U. of U. throughout his life. The family moved to Sandy, Utah, and their only son, Mike, was born.


A lifelong athlete, Ray enjoyed many sports: track and field and football in his youth; then golf, tennis, hiking, and downhill skiing; and later in life, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  He also enjoyed watching professional and college football and basketball, always cheering for his beloved Utes. Ray greatly enjoyed spending time in the beauty and solitude of the outdoors, mostly camping, hiking, and taking beautiful photographs, but also target shooting.  He shared his love of these things with his children by making annual visits to national or state parks or monuments, with Arches National Park being a favorite destination of the whole family. He also took each child, individually, on a hiking trip, and also taught them to ski.  They also made lifetime memories by going on many family camping trips and a few, memorable “big” trips, including one to Southern California and Disneyland and one to Northern California and Southern Oregon.


After Ray’s retirement and divorce he spent many years in Montana living in various lakeside cabins on beautiful lakes before eventually settling in Star Valley, Wyoming, to be closer to his children and grandchildren.  He was an award-winning photographer who developed his own pictures for many years. He loved the beauty of these remote locations where he could take stunning photos of the nearby scenery. Ray and his brother Bliss also went on several trips just to take pictures.


Ray collected stamps throughout his life.  He also enjoyed learning various programming languages.  In his early married life, Ray enjoyed building and flying model airplanes to the great enjoyment of his kids.  He would also take his children to the local airport and let them watch the sky divers. During the last few months of his life he enjoyed watching his son fly his new drone.


While living in Star Valley, Ray could always be found playing Texas Hold ‘Em in the clubhouse on Wednesday nights.  He taught all his kids and grandkids this marvelous game, and everyone enjoyed playing it with him. Ray played with his kids and roughhoused with them when they were young. Ray resting on the floor was an invitation for his kids to jump on him. The kids loved Hop on Pop. As they grew and started their own families Ray always enjoyed getting calls from them. He provided a great listening ear and loved to hear tales of the doings of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Everyone loved it when Grandpa Ray came to visit.


Ray was very nice to everyone he met, scoring hugs from friends, family, and medical personnel.  He was a good handyman and came up with his own unique way to fix problems, drawing on his engineering background.   Every plumber they had in the Sandy house marveled at Ray’s ingenious “mechanical engineering solution” to a plumbing problem they had.  Ray and Beth taught their children how to be do-it-yourselfers: painting and replacing the roof in the rental duplex, finishing rooms in Jill’s basement, installing sprinkling systems in many yards, and doing basic plumbing and electrical repairs.  Ray was also kind of a “car guy.” He could list the specs on every car he ever owned along with the year he bought it, and once had a souped up 1967 Mustang to race on the salt flats.


Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Dorral and Maree, and elder brother Bill and his best friend of 50+ years, Herb Holt.  Survived by brother, Bliss (Pennie) Jensen; children Lisa (Richard) Worsham, Jill Montoya, and Mike (Rachel) Jensen; ten grandchildren and two great-grandsons.  Memorial service on Mar 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the L.D.S. church on 8539 S. 2200 W., West Jordan, UT.

Condolences

Perry Bruno March 14, 2019

Friend and co-worker at Hercules ,

Ray was always a good thinker,a very honest and decent man.

Carol Daniels February 02, 2020

friend Harrison , Idaho

I met Ray on a dating site in 2006 and after a while became friends. I tried to find him when my correspondences sent to Star Valley were returned and just now confirmed my fears that a dear man had died without being able to say goodbye. Your fight is over, my friend. I miss you, Carol

Mary Lou Stone July 16, 2021

Photographer friend Montpelier , Idaho

Rest In Peace, Ray. I miss your friendship and sharing photo trips. Last I heard your family wanted you in Texas…then I lost communication with you. Spiritual hugs my friend