STEVENS, Raymond (Ray)

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona, Sunday, November 18, 2012 Raymond “Ray” Stevens Ray Stevens passed peacefully in his sleep at home in the early morning hours of November 9th, 2012 at his home in Flagstaff. He was 82 years old. Born on September 20th, 1930 in Glen Lyon, PA, Ray was the youngest of seven children born to immigrants from Poland. He often told stories of his simplistic childhood of working hard and playing hard, swimming in the local swimming hole (making certain to emphasize that it was a hole and by no means a pool), and of course walking to school “uphill both ways-and in the snow.” He would go on to speak of the days that he would fish using a piece of cane and a string, loving to be out in nature and living a simple country life while trying to get through high school. Finally, he was able to overcome the first major educational hurdle and graduate high school, the first one of his family to do so which was a tremendous feat. Straight out of high school, Ray obtained employment as an “attendant” at the local mental health hospital, assisting medical staff with minor patient care and supervision. Here he had his first taste of health professions that would lead to his ultimate career choice. More importantly, Ray caught the eye of a beautiful young waitress in the employee dining room named Joy. Over the next two years, Ray and Joy became an inseparable loving couple. He hadn’t given much thought to his future until he received advice and encouragement to become a Registered Nurse (quite rare for a man in those days) and applied/got accepted to Bellvue Hospital’s nursing program in 1950. Having hardly travelled 20 miles from home in his life up to this point, Ray left for New York City to receive his training. Joy encouraged this move and they continued their relationship through it. Over the next two to three years, he received a proper education in nursing, forming strong bonds with his fellow students and getting a quick education on city life. As he put it, his “time at Bellvue was good for a country bumpkin like him and went by fast.” In the meantime, Ray was drafted into the United States Army, but was given a deferral to complete his schooling. Upon completion, Ray returned to the love of his life, got engaged and was married to Joy on October 17th, 1953. Ray then made the decision to pay his time to the Army. The newly wed couple moved to Fort Sam Houston for a quick series of basic training and was permanently assigned to Fitsimons Army Hospital in Denver, CO where he and Joy could finally settle down for a while. With his service obligation paid in 1956, Ray applied to anesthesia school in Allentown, PA and was accepted to an intense one year program. With anesthesia school done, Ray got a job at the Leila Y Catholic Hospital in Battlecreek, MI and, again the couple moved. He was always quick to add that they could fit all of their worldly possessions in the back of their car. In Battlecreek, Ray and Joy would bring their son Doug (1960) and Donna (1962) into the world. The family remained in Battlecreek for 12 years while Ray became the Anesthesia Coordinator at the Leila Y Hospital until he applied for a job in private practice in Flagstaff, Az. The remaining decades of his life were spent in Flagstaff, where he worked in private practice at Flagstaff Medical Center, an accomplishment that he was thoroughly proud of. In his years around the community he has touched the lives of many people from patients to doctors to nurses. Ray will be remembered for his honesty, intellect, thirst for stimulating conversation, almost religious use of crossword puzzles, endless appetite, and more recently the moustache that he seemed to have grown from nowhere. He is survived by Doug (son), Donna (daughter), Dianna (daughter in law), Steve (grandson), and Kayla (granddaughter). The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Martin for his vigilant, caring medicine and Norvel Owens Mortuary for their ease and guidance through this time. At his request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.