Ray Campbell Coles

Chubbuck - Ray Campbell Coles,90, our loving husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at the Idaho State Veterans Home following an extended illness.

He was born May 26, 1921, in Milo, Idaho, a son of Henry Harmon and Amelia Campbell Coles.

He attended elementary schools in Milo and then attended Rigby High School. He worked in the shipyards in Pasco, Washington prior to entering the U.S. Army in April 1944. He served in World War II and survived the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach and later the Battle of The Bulge.

Prior to his military service he married Laura Miles in 1941 and they were later divorced.

Following his discharge from the Army in 1946 he returned to Rigby where he met Mona Abbott who had lost her husband in the war. They were married on January 29, 1947 in Butte, Montana. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 13, 1963.

Ray and Mona moved to Pocatello in 1955 where he began employment at the FMC plant as a machinist and maintenance welder. He worked there for 30 years retiring in 1983.

Ray served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years as a counselor in the bishopric, Young Mens Superintendent and was very active in Boy Scouting as a leader, particularly helping year after year with the pancake breakfast's. He enjoyed fishing, camping and cutting wood.

He also enjoyed family reunions and very much enjoyed his family and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mona Coles, Chubbuck, Idaho, a son, Ray Dean (Jennilee) Coles, Pocatello, Idaho; 3 daughters, Patricia (Larry) Ratliff, Yuciapa, California; Bonita (James) Taylor, Omak, Washington; Diana (Bill) Boyer, Pocatello, Idaho; 2 sisters, Cleo Ameila Evans and Elnora Camphouse, both of Ft. Shaw, Montana; 21 grandchildren, 48, great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, 1 sister, 2 sons, Laurel Ray Coles, Gerald Ray Coles and 3 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chubbuck L.D.S. Stake Center (450 James St.) with Bishop Gary Anderson of the Chubbuck 4th Ward officiating. Interment will be in the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery on Monday at 3:30 p.m. with military graveside rites provided by the Bonneville County Veterans Team and the Idaho Military Honor Guard. The family will receive friends this evening, Sunday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.

Ray's family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff, nurses and doctors at Portneuf Medical Center and the Idaho State Veterans Home for the kind and loving care given to our husband, father and grandpa.