Skip to main content

Ray, John A., 1888-1952

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1888 - 1952

Biographical History

John A. Ray (1888-1952) was a farmer in Arizona.

John Alexander Ray was born in November 10, 1888 in Colonia Díaz, Ascensión, Chihuahua, Mexico. He met his future wife, Juanita Stout, at the Juarez Stake Academy. After moving from Mexico during the 1912 Revolution, his family settled in Mesa, Arizona. He married Juanita Stout in 1914 in Salt Lake City, and they had nine children: John Alexander Ray (1915-1918); Verda Ray Eyring; (1918-2003); Winona Ray Millet (1920-2005); Irving J Ray (1924-2005); Kathleen Ray Palmer (1926-2013); Ila Valeria Ray Fenn (1928-2011); Kennard Dewey Ray (1931-2018); and Donetta Pearl Ray (1933-1941). The family lived on a farm in rural Chandler, Arizona, raising dairy cows. They lost two children, John Alexander Ray Jr. at age three to influenza, and Donnie Pearl Ray at age 8. The family later moved to Mesa, Arizona. John died August 27, 1952, in Mesa, Arizona.

Citation:
FamilySearch, via WWW, September 20, 2022 (John Alexander Ray; born November 10, 1888 in Colonia Díaz, Ascensión, Chihuahua, Mexico; met Juanita Stout at the Juarez Stake Academy; family settled in Mesa, Arizona; married Juanita Stout in 1914 in Salt Lake City, and they had nine children: John Alexander Ray (1915-1918), Verda Ray Eyring, (1918-2003), Winona Ray Millet (1920-2005), Irving J Ray (1924-2005), Kathleen Ray Palmer (1926-2013), Ila Valeria Ray Fenn (1928-2011), Kennard Dewey Ray (1931-2018), and Donetta Pearl Ray (1933-1941); lived on a farm in rural Chandler, Arizona, raising dairy cows; lost two children, John Alexander Ray Jr. at age three to influenza, Donnie Pearl Ray at age 8; family later moved to Mesa, Arizona; died August 27, 1952, in Mesa, Arizona)

Juanita Stout Ray papers, 1908-1951 (referred to on receipts as "John A. Ray")

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Juanita Stout Ray papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9261
Scope and Contents Contains a class song and note belonging to Juanita Stout Ray, dated 1908 to 1914, and letters written by Juanita Stout Ray to John Ray while she was teaching elementary school in Hinckley, Utah, dated 1912 to 1914. Also contains the diaries of Juanita Stout Ray, dated 1913 to 1953, and other documents from her life, such as clippings, receipts, and letters and poems of sympathy to Juanita and her husband John upon the death of their oldest son to the flu epidemic in 1918. In her diaries,...
Dates: 1908-1953
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.