Ray Durane Larsen

Ray was born March 7, 1928 in Omaha, Nebraska. His father owned a bank in Potter, Nebraska, but unfortunately the bank was lost during the depression. This caused Ray and his family to move around during his childhood. Ray enlisted in the Navy during the Second World War; however, the war ended as he was being deployed. He served as part of the U.S. occupational forces in Japan on the USS Chicago, a Heavy Cruiser, which was the Admiral’s flagship.

After returning from Japan, Ray attended San Jose State University earning a master’s degree in Business Administration and securing a teaching credential.

Ray was recalled to the Navy during the Korea war and served at a Navy base in the Aleutian Islands.

Ray and Marcia met when they both attended San Jose State University. They were married November 28, 1952 in San Jose, California. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this past November.

Ray began his teaching career at a Junior High School in San Luis Obispo, California. Ray and Marcia moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1956. Ray taught business classes at Santa Rosa High School and then transferred to Montgomery High School, where he taught until he retired in 1988.

Ray and Marcia eventually built a home in Nevada City, California where they lived until moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 2015.

They raised three boys and now have 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Ray passed away January 3, 2020 at 91 years of age of natural causes.