May 9, 1930-April 26, 2022
Melvin Ray Solomon passed away on April 26, just short of his 92nd birthday.
Melvin Ray Solomon (Ray) was born in Granger, Utah, on May 9, 1930, the first son and fifth of eight children born to Melvin Charles and Evereen (Nielson) Solomon. He attended Monroe Elementary School and Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah. In 1950 he met Ilene Nerdin from West Jordan at the S & M Roller Skating Rink on Redwood Road. The two were married for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple and Ray spent the next 72 years of his life devoted to Ilene, the love of his life and the mother of their four children. He was stationed in Japan while serving in the military during the Korean War, after which he attended radio and television school, allowing him to repair television sets for neighbors and friends around the Granger and Hunter area where he also built a home next to his parents.
Ray spent most of his working life as a milkman for Winder Dairy. His congenial demeanor endeared him to his valley-wide customers who knew him by name and showered him with gifts and goodies during the holidays. In his senior years he drove a school bus for the Granite School district, often being called upon to drive athletic teams to events and take special-needs students on field trips.
As a young father he spent his summers with his family water skiing behind the boat he built on the deep blue lakes and reservoirs in Utah. He spent a lot of time on Mill Pond in Stansbury where he and his fellow milkmen honed their trick skiing skills; later he would build a new house in this area where he and his wife would spend the last 28 years of his life.
Ray's real love was snow skiing. After delivering milk from 3:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the morning, he would spend his afternoon on the slopes of Alta working as a part-time ski instructor. For over 30 years he taught hundreds of people the techniques of deep powder skiing while taking time to make his own first tracks through the “the greatest snow on earth”. "The idea of breathing the fresh mountain air on the bright ski slopes made the cold winter mornings delivering milk bearable," he often explained.
Ray was a man devoted to supporting his children in all their endeavors and didn’t miss their baseball games, gymnastic meets, or musical concerts. He ran alongside his son, Cory, in the Deseret News Marathon, assisted his son, Kip, launch his home-made hang-glider into flight from the Point of the Mountain, carried his son, Michael's, band equipment to a high school stomps in his pickup truck, and frequently picked up his daughter, Tami, after school on his Suzuki motorcycle.
Ray was a man who knew how to live contently in the moment, and he never missed an opportunity to participate in anything the moment had to offer, from enjoying a hike up Lone Peak to eating a bowl of his homemade buttermilk sherbet. His was a life well lived and in remembrance, a life worthy of great joy and celebration.
Ray is survived by his wife Ilene and his children Michael Solomon (Victoria), Douglas Kip Solomon (Lorill), Ronald Cory Solomon (Andreja) and Tami Thomas (Troy). He is also survived by his sibling Susan Ruth Frei, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Ray is preceded in death by his sisters, Lavon Rogers, Cherril Mitchell, Ivie Hepner, Joy Woodbury, and Patsy Larson, and by his brother Bryant Solomon.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 30 at 1:00 pm in Stansbury Park at the Ward House located at 5899 Bayshore Drive, Stanbury Park, UT 84074
A viewing will be held at the same location from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Those interested in donating in Ray’s honor might consider Save Our Canyons or The Church of Jesus Christ Perpetual Education Fund. The family gratefully acknowledges the support and kindness of neighbors and ward members in Granger and Stansbury Park and Ray’s wonderful medical and hospice providers.
Services can be viewed remotely by going to:
www.stansburystake.org
