Ray Mckay Bateman

Ray McKay Bateman was born June 29, 1933, to Ray and Pearl Tueller Bateman in Paris, Idaho. He passed peacefully from this life to the next on March 17, 2017, in Washington, Utah.

McKay grew up in Bloomington, Idaho, the eldest of three children. He is survived by his brother, Vernon, and Sister Linda (Walk). He went to school in Bloomington, graduated from Fielding High School in 1951 and attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he earned his aircraft A&E degree.

Shortly before leaving on his mission, McKay met his sweetheart, Sharon Hansen, at the old Spudnut shop in Grace, Idaho. Over the next two and a half years, the couple kept in touch through letters as McKay served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Central States Mission. He returned home and, one month after his release, Mckay and Sharon were married in the Logan Utah Temple. In December, they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

McKay was the father of six children (John, Janet, JoAnn, Jerry, Jina and Janiece), 26 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Janiece, and a grandson, Justin McKay.

McKay lived his life devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in many church callings, including the bishopric, as a high councilor, and a faithful home teacher even until the last couple months of his life. He taught gospel essential classes, temple marriage prep classes and a family relations class. He and Sharon counselled with, coached, advised and helped many friends towards richer and fuller lives with their willingness to share the gospel, love and be good examples.

In their early years of marriage and while raising a family, McKay and Sharon enjoyed living in Inglewood and Lomita, Calif. McKay worked for 25 years at Air Research, dedicating his time to different projects involving missiles, airplanes and even some top clearance projects, including one of the Apollo missions. He enjoyed what he did and was promoted along the way due to his reliable and consistent work ethic.

Through prudent living, and wise investing on his part, McKay created a secure and comfortable life for his family and provided for them through an early medical retirement after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His humor, wit and guileless personality blessed many lives. The Bateman home was inclusive, open and a haven for many family members, friends, missionaries and anyone in need of shelter and love.

McKay loved duck hunting, skeet shooting, working with wood and tinkering in the garage. A repair man never stepped foot in the Bateman home. McKay did everything, from home repairs to car maintenance. If he didn’t have a tool, he would buy one or make one to get the job done. He was a natural problem solver, and could fix anything put in his way.

After retirement, McKay and Sharon moved to Provo, Utah, where they lived for many years and made many wonderful friends. Eventually, they moved to Pahrump, Nev., to help care for Sharon's parents. They built a lovely home and spent their years working together, sharing what they had with others, hosting family and living with dignity and grace.

Mckay was a calm in the storm of life. On his 80 birthday, Sharon suffered a brain aneurysm and eventual stroke, leaving her severely compromised. McKay visited his sweetheart every day during her nine-month stay in the hospital, managing her care and encouraging her to get better and come home. His loyalty and dedication to Sharon's health and well-being was his primary focus and he accompanied her to all her appointments and therapies. The last four years of his life were spent living together with his sweetheart, under the care of loving family.

McKay loved planes and he loved to fly. Now that he has earned his wings, he is certainly limitless in his ability to sail above the clouds and enjoy the freedom he has sorely missed being restricted to a wheelchair. He will no doubt be soaring in and out of the lives of those he continues to love.

We will miss you, Dad, but never forget you. You are loved by so many, and your legacy of love, example and compassion will continue through the generations.

Funeral services in remembrance of McKay will take place at 11 a.m. on March 25 at the LDS chapel, 115 W. 2000 S, Washington, Utah. A viewing will precede the memorial service beginning at 10 a.m. McMillan Mortuary in St. George, Utah, is handling arrangements.

The graveside service and burial will take place at the city cemetery in Bloomington, Idaho, on March 27 at 11 a.m. Those attending should wear boots.