Ray R Fitzgerald

Ray R Fitzgerald age 92, passed away in his home Oct.27th 2009, surrounded by loving family members. He was born Feb. 19, 1917 to Henry Day Fitzgerald and Agnes Matilda Rasmussen in Draper Utah.

Ray graduated from Jordan High School where he was active in student affairs. He was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and track and field. He was on the Allstate football team for two years and on the Spalding Guide All American football team. He was also captain of the State Championship football team. He later attended Brigham Young University where he starred on their football team.

After graduation Ray worked for Kennecott in the Geology-Engineering department. Other positions he held were assistant superintendent of the American National Insurance Company, assistant director of the Salt Lake County Neighborhood Youth Corps, salesman and sales-manager of Peerless Beauty Supply Co., and Superintendent of Transportation for the Salt Lake City Lines Bus Co.

Ray married Florence Bird in 1937 with whom he had two daughters before they later divorced. Ray married Darle Elaine McMurdie in 1948 and they later solemnized their marriage in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they had one son.

Ray served in both the presidencies of the Elders quorum and the High Priests Quorum. He also served as the stake athletics director, ward clerk, the president of Sunday school, and many other positions.

Ray's hobbies included lapidary, genealogy, building grandfather clocks, and he loved hiking and exploring the mountains and deserts of the American West.

Ray is survived by his children Cherie Dee Petersen (Dell), Robert Fitzgerald (Linda), and Ray Fitzgerald (Martha) and loving granddaughter Toni, 15 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by wife Darle, infant children David and Elizabeth, daughter Margo and grandchildren Shannee and Yancy. Siblings Shirley, Keith, Emma & Muriel.

The family would like to express thanks to Chad Stewart, Sunbrook Hospice and Highland Bagpipes.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, where friends and family can visit from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.holbrookmortuary.com