Raymond Albert Harold

Raymond Harold

American Fork, Utah

Raymond A. Harold, 86, completed his earthly journey on December 16, 2017. He was surrounded by loved ones in his last moments at his home in American Fork, Utah. He entered this world at Newport, Washington on March 7,1931. He was the last of James Wm. and Eula M. Hutchings Harold’s seven children where they lived on a small farm in Scotia, Washington.

When he was 3 years old his family bought a farm on Fox Creek, north of Priest River, Idaho. There he learned to haul water, milk cows, chop wood and hiked to a one-room classroom 7 miles away. He learned to farm with horses and tend the cattle. He moved to town away from his family to attend high school. He did chores in exchange for board and room at the small hospital or with families that would take him in, as no busses made the journey from the farm to town. He played football and became a good boxer.

Living in timber country he found work for the Forest Service piling brush and serving in fire lookout towers. He met his sweetheart at a community hall dance but was too shy to speak to her without intense encouragement from his buddies. At just 20 years old after hiring onto a logging crew, he was crushed when logs fell from a truck. He spent the next 11 months in a body cast. He was able to briefly leave the hospital and was married to his sweetheart, Charlotte Bahler, while laying on a couch in his cast at his parent’s Fox Creek home by traveling LDS missionaries.

Making a living in the woods was difficult. Hiring onto Boeing Aircraft Co. was more reliable so he moved his wife and son and bought a small home in Renton, Washington. With stable work, Ray found more balance in his life. He found purpose in church and family. It was at this time that he traveled to Idaho Falls to have his family sealed to him in the temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and for all eternity. Soon two more children joined the family and after a company transfer to Riverside, California another daughter joined the fold. Amidst corporate strife and company transfers he found himself back home in Priest River for a time working in business and timber industry.

As his family grew older, he sold his logging equipment and followed the building boom to Utah and started an excavation business in Orem. His children all found spouses there. John and Jeanne (Hair) Harold, Lewiston;, Philip and Janis (Rentmeister) Harold, Joseph; Juli and Eric Arnoldsen, Ephraim; Heidi and Walter Anaya, Lehi. Eventually he had to leave them behind when they took over the family ranch back in Priest River. For the next 30 years, he was able to use all of his life skills and found it as fulfilling as any work he had done. He grew hay, raised registered cattle, continued to log and excavate. It is in this area that his two older sisters, Doris Stockton, Newport, WA; and Betty Holley, Priest River, still live. In 2013 Ray received the Bull of the Woods award for Priest River City Days.

Ray has been an avid genealogist and researcher of family history. He considered it as some of his life’s most important work. He was still submitting his research until his last days. Ray has served in many responsible church positions, including: high councils, bishoprics, priesthood quorum presidencies, two stints as a missionary with his dear wife and temple workers, but after all that he was humble enough to serve as a teacher of small children to whom he learned to love. Maybe that why his 33 grandchildren and his 36 great-grandchildren love him so much and will miss him dearly.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Pleasant Grove ward chapel at 2433 West 450 South, where friends may call after 12:00 Noon. An additional funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Priest River Ward Chapel, 13261 Highway 2, Oldtown, Idaho. Burial will be in the Priest River Idaho Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com