Ivan Ray Litherland

1931 - 2016

Ivan Ray Litherland passed to his eternal home surrounded by his loving family on Dec. 15.

He was born August 23,1931, in Elizabeth, Colo. to James Ralph and Mary Catherine Phillips Litherland.

He graduated from Elizabeth High School in 1949, and was drafted soon after during the Korean War. Following Basic Training he went to the Air Defense Officer Candidate School at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and was then assigned to a Artillery Battalion in Yakima, Wash., where a truck accident resulted in a broken neck and several months of hospitalization in a body cast. He then attended Army Air Defense School in Ft. Bliss, after which he served as an instructor in the school and had many assignments with Nike Missile Battalions, often as Battery Commander, and Headquarters Brigade Commander, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and three posts in Germany. During the Vietnamese War he was an advisor to the Vietnamese Army at My Tho in the Mekong Delta. His final assignment was as advisor to the German Air Force at the embassy in Bonn, Germany. He retired in 1971 as Lt. Colonel and the family returned to Las Vegas.

After more than 10 years of night school at various military posts, including Texas Western College in El Paso, where he met his wife, Joyce Hilton, he received his bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in 1964. He and Joyce were wed April 27, 1957.

Ray is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, John (Meagan), daughter, Sharon Roe (Edward), and son, Kenneth (Carol); grandchildren, Mairi Litherland, Jack Litherland, Arwyn Henry (Matthew), Ivan Roe, Chase Roe, Christina Litherland, and Nicky Litherland; sister, Joyce Mikita (Joe); sister-in-law, Susan Litherland; brother-in-law, Allen Price (Bessie), and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Following retirement, Ray managed Hilton Motors until the dealership was sold, after which he attended graduate school at New Mexico Highlands University, studying finance, accounting and computer programming. He learned banking from the ground up and programmed the first computerized accounting system for First National Bank in Las Vegas. He assumed the position of president and CEO of the bank upon his father-in-law's retirement in the early 1980s. The bank was renamed Community First when it changed from a national bank to a state bank.

Ray was a very active member of the Board of the New Mexico Community Bankers Association for many years, serving on its Board for more than 20 years. He received the organizations Legacy Award in 2015 for his many years of service to NM community banking. He was on the NMHU Foundation for more than 20 years, serving as its treasurer for most of that time. He became a member of the Las Vegas Noon Kiwanis Club shortly after his return to Las Vegas, serving it as both treasurer and president and served two terms as Division Lt. Governor of the Southwest District.

The family traveled extensively all over the world, of which seven trips were with each of their grandchildren to the world destination of their choice.

A lifetime Presbyterian, Ray was a member of First United Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas, having served as a trustee and chair of the finance committee.

Memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at the Immaculate Conception Church, officiated by Rev. Katie Palmer, assisted by Rev. Pat Halverson. The family is extremely grateful for the courtesy of Father George and the IC parish for the use of the church for this funeral.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Community First Bank Endowment to provide continuing education scholarships for Middle School Educators at the NMHU Foundation, PO Box 9000, Las Vegas, or the First United Presbyterian Church Mustard Seed Fund, 1000 Douglas Avenue, Las Vegas, N.M. 87701.

Visit Rogers Mortuary's website at www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign their online register book.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rogers Mortuary 600 Reynolds Ave Las Vegas, NM. 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511.