Ray Christensen

Ray Richards Christensen died peacefully on Friday, October 24, 2014. He left this life as he had lived it with integrity, dignity, and stoicism. Ray was born on July 7, 1922 to Carrie Richards and E. Ray Christensen in Salt Lake City. As a young boy, Ray and his brother Ned spent their summers in Chester, Utah with their father's relatives. They looked forward to these visits and learned a great deal about hard work while performing their chores on the farm. Ray was raised during the Depression and whatever else was lacking, there was never a lack of love. Ray knew his parents would, and did, do everything they could for their sons. They supported them in all their activities and instilled in them strong moral values and a good work ethic.Ray's father was an attorney and his mother was a teacher and they impressed on their children the importance of a good education. Ray graduated from South High School and was class valedictorian. He attended the University of Utah where he was a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1944.Ray served in the United States Army during World War II in France and Germany. When he returned from the war, he clerked for Justice James H. Wolfe of the Utah Supreme Court and then established the law firm of Moreton, Christensen & Christensen which ultimately became Christensen & Jensen and remains to this day a prominent Salt Lake firm bearing his name.After establishing his legal career, Ray met Carolyn Crawford and following a courtship marked by a series of extended coffee breaks in the Judge Building, they were married on July 9, 1954. They spent the next 32 years together building a beautiful home, traveling, entertaining, and raising four children. Carolyn passed away in 1986 and in 1989, Ray married Jeanne Forrest Pyke. Together, they enjoyed their blended family, wide circle of friends, and numerous international travel adventures. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ray earned numerous professional awards and recognition. He was elected to serve as the president of the Utah State Bar Commission and the Western States Bar Association and as a State Delegate to the American Bar Association's House of Delegates. He was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He received the Lawyer of the Year Award and Lifetime Service Award from the Utah State Bar, the Utah Trial Lawyer of the Year from American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Federal Bar Association. As proud as he was of these professional achievements, his family was the most important part of his life and he loved traveling, playing tennis, or watching baseball and football games with them. His three grandchildren were a continual source of joy and pleasure. Ray was a devoted golfer and spent many happy weekends at the Salt Lake Country Club constantly trying to improve his game but never really succeeding. He served as president of the Country Club in 1978 and president of the Alta Club in 1988 where he was a dedicated participant at the "Round Table." Ray is survived by his wife Jeanne, his brother Edward R. (Ned) Christensen; his children Carlie Christensen (Herman Post), Paul Christensen (Pat), Joan Christensen (Daniel Girdano), and Eric Christensen, his three grandchildren Michael Ray Christensen (Rachel), Sarah Ann Jenkins (Wes), and Daniel James Christensen. He is also survived by stepchildren Diane Sartain (William), Gayle Griffiths (Donn), Robert Pyke and Scott Pyke.Special thanks to the caregivers and nursing staff at Silverado Senior Living Center for their compassionate care of Ray. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 11 am at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary 3401 S. Highland Drive with interment to follow at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 5-7 pm or Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray's honor to the Alzheimer's organization of choice.