Raymond David Nations

A memorial service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 200 Via Viejo in Marble Falls on Monday October 7, 2013 at 5 pm officiated by Bishop Fred DeBusk. Interment will be in Thatcher, AZ where graveside services will be held on Friday, Oct 11.

David is survived by his wife of 50 years, Merilyn Gillins Nations, and 5 daughters: Lori Byers of Carlsbad, NM; Dawn Wright of Leander, TX; Kelly Pagano of Highland Village, TX; Mikal Davids of Tokyo, Japan; and Danielle Eastwood of Round Rock, TX. He also leaves behind his twenty grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His sister Jo Ann Hightower of Tempe, AZ also survives him. His parents, brother Donald Eugene, and grandson David Weyerman preceded him in death.

Born to James Raymond Nations and Helen Ruth Bingham on August 4, 1943 in Safford, Arizona, he attended 19 schools in 12 years before attending New Mexico State University where David caught the eye of Merilyn Gillins. They married in 1963, and later had five beautiful daughters Through his studies, he earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Industrial Safety. In his early years, David worked hard in the mining industry before finishing his schooling and joining the US Dept. of Labor as a mine safety inspector and auditor. He was later employed at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM, before joining the staff at the Superconducting Super Collider in Texas.

Upon retiring from the government, David purchased a family business in Granite Shoals, the Corner Market and Happy Cooker Grill. David enjoyed working and living in a small town atmosphere where he could relax with his family, fish on Lake LBJ and build relationships with the local residents he would eventually call friends. After 12 years of running his own business, David and his family sold it in 2005 which allowed for he and his wife to travel around the US and Japan.

David and his wife recently returned from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Washington Seattle Mission. They were blessed to work in both the mission office serving the 250 young missionaries and with the members of a Marshallese Branch of the Church.

Anyone who met David knew his faith and family were the most important things in his life. Although he seemed tough on the outside, he was a gentle giant on the inside. He treated everyone with respect and love, and all those who knew him will miss him dearly. Until we meet again...