Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Ray Gene Jimison of Glendive, 82, passed peacefully from this life into the arms of his Savior on Monday morning, Oct. 20, 2008.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Glendive on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at 10 a. m. Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 8 p. m. and Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 9: 30 a.m. at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A rosary, memorial service and a life tribute service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Rite of committal with military honors will be at the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. On Feb. 21, 1926, Ray Gene Jimison and his twin brother, Roy, were born in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Ray was the third son and fifth child born to Clell Henry Jimison and Edna Cecelia (Beason) Jimison. Soon after his birth, the Jimison family relocated to rural Glendive. Ray, along with his twin brother Roy, attended rural Glendive schools. Upon relocating to Savage, Ray completed his education there. In Ray’s younger days, he worked for farmers in the Savage area. He then worked for Kaiser Shipyard, as an acetylene welder, in Vancouver, Wash., prior to induction with the U. S. Army, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment. Ray entered the U. S. Army on May 25, 1944, and served in World War II. While in the Army, Ray served in Italy with the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain) 86th Mountain Infantry as an automatic rifleman. Ray was wounded in action in Northern Italy on April 15, 1945. Ray G. Jimison, was honorably discharged from the U. S. Army on April 27, 1946. Ray married Ethel Edam on Oct. 11, 1945, in Sidney. To this union six children were born. Ray and Ethel also took in a foster child for 4 years. Proud moments for Ray and Ethel included;watching their children’s activities from athletics to band and choir concerts. Family activities, holidays and family vacations were always a priority with Ray. Ethel preceded Ray in death on Dec. 20, 1973. Ray worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Peck building the Fort Peck Dam. He and Ethel then relocated to Glendive where Ray worked for Dowell Oilfield Services, the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Northern Pacific Hospital. Ray worked for 30 years with the Dawson County High School as the supervisor of building and grounds. Ray retired on April 1, 1988. Ray also drove Activity Bus for Dawson County High School. He watched and "side-line coached" many basketball games, wrestling matches, football games and band/choir festivals. Ray enjoyed driving the Activity Bus. Some of you will remember Ray Jimison as the umpire at the Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball games, as well as the girls softball games. Ray also enjoyed working as an equipment operator with Milton Hood, and his fishing trips to Canada with his fishing buddies. Ray married Olivia (Job) Barth on Nov. 22, 1976, in Belle Fourche, S.D. When Ray retired, he and Olivia would spend their winters in Arizona. They met up with some of Ray’s cousins, and met many nice friends. Ray and Olivia enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Ray was a civic leader in Glendive, serving two terms on the Glendive City Council. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Elks and Moose Clubs. Ray was a social person. He always wore a smile, had a good word to say, offered a helping hand, and never gave up. His grandchildren will remember him as being an honest man who kept his promises. Ray was preceded in death by his first wife, Ethel Jimison, in December 1973; son Allen Jimison in March 2005; parents, Clell and Edna; brothers and sisters, Carl Jimison, Helen Thompson, Dorothy Petersen, twin brother Roy Jimison, Jim Jimison, Dennis Jimison; and granddaughter Heather Jimison. Ray is survived by his wife, Olivia Jimison; sons, Jerry (LaDonna) of Glendive and Ralph (Micki) of Havre; daughters, Linda (Randy) Baldwin, Karen (Wilbur) Wallace and Paula (Clyde) Gorder, all of Glendive; and one step-daughter, Jerilyn (Randy) Miller of Rock Springs, Wyo.; one foster son, Kip (Mary) Braden of Glendive. His surviving grandchildren are: DeVonna Snow, Cole (Jenny) Jimison, Tiffany (Rhett) Coon, Michaela (Wade) Murphy, Candi (Harley) Kirkegard, Brandi (Bart) Austby, Travis (Marya) Jimison, Leah (Denny) Thompson, Dane (Alita) Jacobsen, Paul (Emily) Wallace, Annie (Derek) Smith, Jason (Jill) Jimison, Kellie (Willie) Schlepp, and Kyle (Ja-Neese) Jimison. Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome. com.
