Our loving husband, father, brother and grandfather, Ray Duffin, passed away peacefully in the loving arms of his wife on Thursday, September 12, 2019, in Sandy, Utah. Ray was born on the Ides of March in 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Max Herbert Duffin and Aurelia Walz Duffin. He graduated from East High School in 1961, where he played on the golf team.
Ray served in the United States Army Reserve, Artillery Battalion from 1961 to 1970 when he was honorably discharged as Sergeant First Class. During this time, he also served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Southwest British Mission from June 1962 to June 1964. Ray and Darlene met in German class while at East High School. While Ray was serving his mission, the two of them began writing to each other and when he returned home they got engaged at the University of Utah Homecoming Dance in 1964. They were sealed for time and all eternity on May 14, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple. Ray graduated from the University of Utah in 1970 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Recreation. While attending the U, he was an instructor at Fort Douglas
USAR School, played on the U of U Golf Team, and also helped open the Special Events Center on campus.
Ray’s family was well known for Duffin’s Ice Cream, Duffin’s Corn and Marie Calendar pies.
Ray and Darlene together raised four daughters and two sons, Lisa, Carrie, Rob, Becky, Mary Jane, and Joe.
During this time, they lived in Salt Lake City Utah, Monrovia California, and then in 1989 moved to Mission
Viejo California. They returned to Sandy Utah in 2007. Ray began his career at American Recreation Center. He later became a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, AG Edwards & Sons, and Kidder Peabody until 1983, when he began working for Balcor American Express. In 1989 he took a job with Delta Financial in California as an Account Executive. Upon returning to Utah in 2007, Ray worked for Extend Health-Towers Watson and also loved his part-time job working at Home Depot. He retired in 2015.
Ray and Darlene faithfully served 3 missions together. First, serving as Daily Dose missionaries in Herriman Utah teaching English to a Spanish branch. Second, they were called to serve in the Rexburg, Idaho mission working in the Internship and Career Services Department at BYU-Idaho from 2015-2017. Upon returning home, they were called to serve as MLS (Member Leader Support) missionaries in the Sandy Utah Crescent Park Stake for 18 months. Ray loved being a missionary. Everyone he met he considered his friend.
Ray enjoyed playing golf with Darlene and friends, traveling with Darlene, visiting his kids and grandkids,
decorating for Halloween, serving anyone who came in his path, playing the piano, WWII history, watching
NCIS and the Utah Utes. Ray always had a fun story or joke to share. He loved his children and their spouses
and supporting the many activities his 17 grandchildren were involved in. Ray loved his Savior and always
made sure his family knew through his actions and through his testimony. He served faithfully every day as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Ray is survived by his best friend and wife, Darlene; sons Robert Feinauer (Julie Hullinger), Joseph Ray (Karen Gleason); daughters Lisa Anne (Todd McGee), Carrie Sue (David Willis), Rebecca Lynne (Patrick Barton), Mary Jane (Daniel Stewart); seventeen grandchildren; brothers Mark Duffin (Laura), Carl Duffin; sister Barbara Clark (Jerry); and many close friends. Preceded in death by his parents and his brother Milton.
Funeral services will be Friday, September 27, 2019, at 11:00 am in the Sandy Crescent Park Stake Center 11350 South 1000 East, Sandy. A viewing will be held Thursday evening September 26, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, and Friday morning from 9:00-10:30 am at the church prior to services. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints General Missionary Fund.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wasatchlawn.com for the Duffin family.
FAMILY
Darlene DuffinWife
Robert Feinauer (Julie Hullinger) DuffinSon
Joseph Ray (Karen Gleason) DuffinSon
Lisa Anne (Todd) McGeeDaughter
Carrie Sue (David) WillisDaughter
Rebecca Lynne (Patrick) BartonDaughter
Mary Jane (Daniel) StewartDaughter
Ray is survived by his seventeen grandchildren as well as other family members and friends who will cherish his memory.
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