Isaac "Ray" R. Boots

Isaac R. "Ray" Boots, 92, of Sale Creek, TN, formerly of Rockford, IL and Tampa, FL, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, November 8, 2026. He was born March 12, 1934 in Caldwell, Idaho, the son of Herbert A. and Ellen (Parker) Boots. Ray attended Cascade Union High School where he met the love of his life, Jeannette Fowler. They married on October 30, 1953. Ray joined the United States Air Force in January of 1954. While in the service, Ray earned his GED in March of 1957. He served in the Maryland, Washington D.C. area, he was stationed in Spain, Washington/Oregon, Colorado and his final location in Tampa, Florida in 1965. Ray was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant in March 1968.

In 1965, Ray decided to follow Jesus Christ and give him his life. He and Jeannette started attending Providence Baptist Church of Riverview, FL. He was befriended by Meryl Holt and his wife and his life was completely changed from that point on. Ray was employed by Providence Baptist Church as a janitor and bus mechanic. He then started working with a friend for a cleaning service and had a lawn care business. He finally worked at several golf courses in the Tampa Bay area before retiring in 2001. In June of 2002, Ray and Jeannette moved to Sale Creek, Tennessee and began serving with Amazing Grace Mission. While at the mission, he helped make the Three Door Units used by missionaries all over the world to present the Gospel of Christ. He moved to Rockford for a short time to have help caring for Jeannette. She passed in November 2021. Ray then decided to move back to Amazing Grace Mission and was helping the mission until his homegoing on November 8, 2026.

Ray is survived by his children, Dana (David) Merrifield, Sr. of Louisville, KY, Terri (James) Christians of Rockford, IL, Rebecca Boots of Chattanooga, TN, Philip Boots of Yulee, FL; grandchildren, Michelle Merrifield, Stacie (Kenny) Goodman, David (Lindsay) Merrifield, Jr., Stephen (Sarah) Christians, Shellie (John) Burkle, Sarah (Daniel) Bass, Jordan Boots, Isaac Boots and Abigail Boots; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Kaylie, Savanna, Katie Jo, Everett, Bryson, Lucy, Carson, Nikki, Lauren, Lydia, Ember, Ivy, Peter and 1 great-grandchild on the way; sisters, Sandy (Gary) Morkert of Woodland, WA and Sharon Maggard of Bend, OR; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jeannette, children Karl L. Boots and Cheryl L. Boots, great-grandson Bryant Merrifield and sister LouAnn Deem.

A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 19, 2026 at Advantage Funeral Home, 7000 W. State St, Rockford, IL 61102. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Willwood Burial Park with military honors to be presented. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Amazing Grace Missions, P.O. Box 289, Dayton, TN 37321.