EMERY, Ray

Vining Funeral Home, Safford, Arizona Ray Emery April 22, 1921 ~ September 28, 2013 Ray Emery, 92, of Safford, Arizona, peacefully passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, September 28, 2013. Ray was born April 22, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to David Garnet and Ruby Ball Emery. Ray grew up in Salt Lake City, graduated from East High School and later studied business at the University of Utah. Ray served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the East Central States Mission from 1940-1942. After proposing to Margaret Keddington with a ring on the tip of a banana, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple, June 14, 1944. Ray and Margaret were blessed with four children. From an early age, Ray worked in the family owned grocery store, Emery’s Market. He later assumed the ownership and operation of the market, while becoming well- known for his custom meat-cutting. In 1969 Ray moved the family to Safford, Arizona and opened Gamble’s store, which became a well-known retail establishment in downtown Safford. Church service was always a part of Ray’s life. After retirement Ray and Margaret served as full-time missionaries in the Birmingham Alabama Mission, from 1987-1988. Family members were foremost in Ray’s life and they cherished his stories, quick wit, and advice. Loved ones would often ask themselves, “What would Dad or Grandpa do?” Ray’s life was a demonstration of his undeviating commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ray was preceded in death, by his wife, Margaret, in 2003, and is survived by two sons, Brent (Susan) of Pima, AZ and Garn (Nisa) of Bullhead City, AZ; two daughters, Jeanne (Scott) Beames of Mesa, AZ and Margaret Ann (Randy) of Rio Rancho, NM. Posterity includes 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held October 3rd 6-8pm at the Vinning Funeral Home and October 4th 11:30am - 12:45p, at the Safford Stake Center, 501 West Catalina Drive, Safford, Arizona. Funeral services will be held at the Stake Center on October 4th at 1:00pm.