Raymond Joseph 'Ray' Delay, 83

Raymond Joseph "Ray" Delay, 83, passed away in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Monday morning, Jan. 14, 2008.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. Father Larry Gooley from Priest River will officiate. Interment will be in Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be on Friday, Jan. 18, from 5-7 p.m. and on Saturday, Jan. 19, until service time.

Ray was born on July 19, 1924, in Careywood, Idaho, the son of Tony and Elizabeth Delay. He was raised on the family farm, graduating from Granite Grade School in 1938 and from Sandpoint High School in 1942. He worked on the construction of Farragut Naval Training Center, worked on the construction of the Power City Electric, and drove truck for Reid Brothers Texaco.

On April 10, 1948 he married Fairy Fisher in Coeur d'Alene they have been married for 59 years. He owned and operated the farm in Careywood, operating a Grade A dairy, raising beef cattle, and legumes, cereal grains, and timber.

He owned and managed Ray's Supply, selling feed, grain, and farm products from 1950 until 1967. He was the supervisor for the Idaho Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Bonner County Rodent Control Supervisor, was the auditor and insurance adjuster for Rain and Hail Insurance, and was the auditor for North Central Crop Insurance.

Since 1950 he has worked on the election board for Bonner County serving as the Careywood Precinct chief judge of elections. He was the master of the Westmond Grange for two years, chairman of the Bonner County Advisory Board for six years, and county committee chairman of the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service for nine years.

In 1977 he received the outstanding director award from the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, in 1987 received the Woodsman of the Year Award, and in 1999 the North Idaho Timberfest Apprecia-tion Ward.

At the local level he was active in Bonner County Dairy Herd Associa-tion, Bonner County Breeders Association, Bonner County Farm Bureau, Bonner County Tax Protective Association, Sandpoint High School Vocational Advisory Council, Bonner County Grassman Committee, Farm Home Administration Committee, Soil Conservation District, Bonner County Fair Board, Bonner County Extension Committee, and the Northern Lights, Inc. Advisory Board.

At the state level, Ray was District 1 Grassman of the Year in 1969, served on the Idaho Dairy Products Commission, was Director for the Idaho Dairyman's Association, was Chairman of the Idaho-Washington Resource Conservation and Development Council, an American Tree Farmer member, hosting the Idaho State Forestry Judging Contest; Idaho Forest Owners Association member, and Idaho Soil Conservation District member.

He was active in Urban Development, Idaho Resource Conservation, Panhandle Lakes Resource Conservation and Development, and the Idaho Department of Lands. Ray received many outstanding awards for his contributions and served as chairman and treasurer, for many years, on these committees.

At the national level Ray also participated in the Dairy Association, Western Resource Conservation and Development associations, serving as chairman and comptroller for the National Association of Resource and Conservation Council. He also received national recognition and awards for his participation.

Ray was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 34.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fairy Delay of Careywood, Idaho; two sons, Eugene (and Rona) Delay of Colchester, Vt., and Raymond (and Linda) Delay of Sandpoint, Idaho; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers, John (and Helen) Delay, of Newport, Wash., Joseph (and Helen) Delay of Spokane, Wash., and Tony Delay of Spokane, Wash; and four nephews and three nieces.

His parents, a brother, and a nephew preceded him in death.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, to the Parkinson's Foundation or to N.O.S.D.A. (no one should die alone) Association of Coeur d'Alene.

Family friends are invited to sign Ray's guestbook at www.coffeltfunral.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.