Ray was born in Ware, Iowa. His parents were Donald Laverne and (Marian) Joyce Merry. Ray spent his growing up years in Storm Lake, Iowa, with his older brother Don L. Merry, younger sister, Susan Gay Vinicor and youngest sibling, Thomas James Merry. He had many stories of Storm Lake, at the lake with his family and two closest friends, in which their friendships continued throughout their lives: Darryl Halling (deceased), and Ned Nettleton. Ray graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1955. After being drafted into the Army and completed his service to our country, he earned a B.S. in Geology in 1960, and a M.S. in Geology, 1963; both degrees obtained from Wyoming University. He received the Charles Hill Scholarship, The Department of Geology Scholarship, and made The Dean of Men Honor Roll, in 1960. His thesis was conducted in Hog Park, where he spent many adventurous years camping with his family and friends, for the remainder of his life.  After college he worked for Mobil Oil in Denver, and then in 1975 worked as the head of the Uranium Department at the Colorado School of Mines Exploration Division. He retired in his mid-fifties. Ray had many talents. He acquired the skills and desires to engineer, create blueprints and build, after working with his father who was a builder; “an excellent builder and carpenter”,  per Ray. He and his father built Ray and Helen’s home in Blue Mountain Estates where they raised their two children: Karen Elizabeth Merry Stuart (married to Cody W. Stuart), and Mark Ray Merry (married to Tonya Merry). Later, Ray designed and built a Victorian home at 2809 Fish Creek Rd. Estes Park, in 1994, which was a marvel and one of his greatest accomplishments in his later years. He also designed and built another home in Lyons, Colorado, where he spent the remainder of his last 20 years of his life. Ray was a person who gave back to his community in a quiet manner. He helped his neighbors in many ways, some of which was collecting and cutting firewood, and the other was manipulating the stream in the open area, to provide good access and memories for the community. He built bridges and hidden seating benches with flowers and even stocked fish food to feed the fish in the stream: He was able to make areas like these magical. Ray enjoyed everything outdoors including fishing, hunting, and feeding the local turkeys rabbits and birds outside of his home. It is also worth mentioning that he belonged to The Belt Buckle Club in Estes Park, where he found many good friends that he enjoyed fishing with and good fellowship. He loved all sports and especially a fan of all Colorado’s major sports. Ray’s most valued gifts were his children and grandchildren: Madelon E. Brown, Abigail M. Brown and step grandson, Hayden B. Stuart Chapa. He spent many hours advising, teaching , reminiscing and planning futures with all of them regularly, and was always interested and included their significant others. Ray’s Vigil will be held on Thursday, November 14,2024 at 18:30:

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church: 3791 Pike Rd. Longmont, Colorado 80530

The Mass will be livestream (see under Events below) , and in person on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 10:30a.m., also at St. Francis of Assisi with a reception to be announced. You may send flowers to the church or make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as Ray also would donate to this organization: 1-800-805-5856