Raymond V. Marchant

1942 - 2010

Raymond V. Marchant passed away Monday, June 14, at his home in Smithfield, Utah, following an extended battle with cancer.
Raymond was born March 23, 1942, in Coalville, Utah, to Anne Scheel and Albert Harper Marchant. He spent most of his childhood in Peoa and Ogden, Utah, before the family settled in Smithfield in 1956. He attended Smithfield Junior High and graduated from North Cache High School in 1960.
Ray served an LDS mission to Northern California and attended Utah State University, graduating in 1966 with a degree in education. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve for several years. He married Sharol King, of Garland, in the Logan LDS Temple on Aug. 4, 1967.
As a young child he acquired a love for farming which carried through his adult life. In 1970, he and his brother George purchased their father's dairy farm north of Smithfield. It was there he taught his children the values of hard work, responsibility and family.
Ray began his civil service career at Hill Air Force Base in Oct. 1966. He spent most of his career working in Civilian Personnel. He was chosen to be Chief of Staffing in May 1991 and led that organization through some very difficult times. The Personnel Office received Air Force-wide recognition for outstanding accomplishments during Ray's administration. He also received the Outstanding Personnel Senior Program Manager Award for his work. He served for one year as the civilian personnel officer, where he was a member of the senior management team for Hill Air Force Base, assisting and advising the commander on all civilian personnel concerns. In May 1999 his expertise was needed in the Classification branch, where he served as chief of classification until his retirement in March 2002. At his retirement he was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award.
Raymond lived his religion by being a good neighbor. He was a very busy man, but he would always find time to help those in need. He was a member of the Smithfield 8th Ward for 36 years and served in the elders and high priests quorum presidencies, bishopric, Scouts, Young Mens, nursery, in the Sunday School presidency, and as a member of the high council. He was a faithful home teacher.
The highlight of his retirement was serving a mission with his wife, Sharol, to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii. He quickly grew to love his associates there, especially the BYUH students whom he mentored.
He also served on the Logan Northern Irrigation Company board of directors and on the Bear River Small Irrigator Board for many years.
Ray is survived by his wife, Sharol, and their five children: Marci (Kyle) Larsen of Wellsville; Paul (Mindy) Marchant of Ohio; Terie (Mike) Julaton of Hawaii; Layne (Celeste) Marchant of Tremonton; Raelyn (Matthew) Jenson of Saratoga Springs; and 16 grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Janet (Alan) Luke of SLC; Kathryn (Lee) Durrant of Holladay; A. George (Charlene) Marchant of Smithfield; and Richard (Linda) Marchant of Colorado.
He will be remembered as a man who loved his family and took every opportunity to teach them the values that would serve them well in life.
The family expresses thanks to Mary Kay Murray and the Alpine Hospice team who assisted in Ray's care during his final weeks.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 18, at Nelson Funeral Home in Smithfield. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 19, at 11 a.m., with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Smithfield Utah North Stake Center, 155 W. 400 North.
Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com