Ray Hutchinson

Ray James Hutchinson Jr. 80, peacefully returned to his Heavenly Home surrounded by his family at his home in Cedar Hills, Utah, on Friday March 15, 2024. He was born June 24, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Ray James Hutchinson and Vera Portia Stewart. He had a happy childhood living in Salt Lake City, Lindon and Heber City, Utah. His father wanted his sons to learn how to work, so he bought a dairy farm in Heber City. The boys got up at 4 a.m. to milk the 40 cows and came home from school to milk again at 4 p.m. They baled hay in the summer to feed the cows through the winter.

After he graduated from Wasatch High School, he attended BYU and received an Electrical Engineering Technology degree.

Ray served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest British Mission from 1962-1964. When he returned home from England, he went back to BYU where he met his eternal sweetheart, Lexiane Merrell from Delta, Utah. They were married on August 19, 1966 in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised their six children in Provo, Orem, Elk Ridge, Salt Lake City, UT and Simi Valley, CA.

Ray was employed by KBYU Channel 11 TV in Provo, Utah. He began at KBYU TV as a student and left as Assistant Chief Engineer. During his time in Provo, Ray and his business partner owned and operated Central Utah Avionics, an airplane radio sales and service shop, for eight years at the Provo Airport. Ray held a pilot's license and in his own plane logged hundreds of hours in flight.

Ray moved the family to Salt Lake City to work as Chief Engineer for the University of Utah KUED channel 7 TV for 5 years.

The next move was in August of 1983 to Simi Valley, California to work for Bonneville Satellite. Ray designed and supervised the construction of the Hollywood technical operations center and studio. As Southern California Area Manager, Ray supervised staff located in the Hollywood, San Diego, and Sylmar offices.

The last move was back to Utah and Ray enjoyed researching building materials and appliances to go in their home being built in Cedar Hills. Ray and Lexiane moved into their new home on October 31, 2006.

The joy and focus of Ray's life was spending time with his family. His face lit up whenever the grand or great grandkids came to visit. Ray and his son, Dallin, bought an eighteen-wheel refrigerated truck and started a new business, Hutchinson Trucking. They transported freight in every mainland state except Michigan. They enjoyed the open road for two years. Ray's travels took him to 23 countries although his ultimate love was for pine trees and the mountains. Ray took his whole family to Alaska on a cruise to share his favorite place on earth. He loved our family reunions and taking his grandkids to the temple when they turned 12 years old to do baptisms. He enjoyed preparing for mission dinners when a grandchild received their mission call. His favorite foods were rice pudding, carrot cake, oatmeal raisin cookies and ice cream.

Ray was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He happily accepted every calling and especially enjoyed his calling as bishop of the Santa Susana 3rd Ward in Simi Valley, CA and his many years serving as an ordinance worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. He served the Lord on two missions with his wife, one to the Philippines from 2000-2002 and the second to Poland from 2012-2014. He was privileged to help with the satellite installation at 14 chapels in the Philippines to be ready for the Nauvoo Temple Dedication. He loved missionary work and if it had not been for his poor health, Ray would have served many more missions.

After retirement, Ray accepted his daughter's plea to drive a bus for her children's school. He enjoyed the students and drove wearing a Santa suit every Christmas to the delight of many students.

Survivors include: his wife, Lexiane, children, Wendy (Eric) Reynolds, Tracy (Chick) Mooney, Dallin (Angela) Hutchinson, Kristie (Seann) McWhorter, Shari (Jesse) Card, Gina (Zac) Robinson, 29 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and siblings David (Shelley), Bruce (Glennis), and Melinda Morris Hutchinson and Janet (Roger) Anderson. He is preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Carson, and siblings Carolyn and Gary.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 11 a.m. in the Cedar Hills 8th Ward building, 4580 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Anderson & Sons Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 West 11000 North, Highland and Saturday at the church from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral services. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses that have helped Ray during the past 3 ½ months. We are especially grateful for Lexie and Steve from IHC Home Care and Jordan, Courtney and Kinley from Dignity Hospice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Anderson & Sons Mortuary.

The funeral stream will be available at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85446931496?pwd=NWdZS3hZTlpGOWpUNEtoN3FKZjRiZz09