Raymond Litle Mehaffey Jr.

Raymond "Ray" Litle Mehaffey Jr., a proud fourth-generation Loveland resident, passed away on December 7, 2025. He was born August 2, 1937, in Loveland, Colorado, to Raymond Mehaffey Sr. and Eva L. Braden Mehaffey. Ray is survived by his wife, Sonja; son, Mike; daughter, Terri; grandchildren, Zach, Kelsi, and Caleb; and great-grandchildren, Logan, Declan, and Elxis. His family roots in northern Colorado go back to 1865, long before the founding of Loveland.

From the very beginning, Ray's life was marked by challenges: he was born with a serious kidney condition that required multiple medical treatments and hospital stays. Yet he refused to let that define him. With the devotion of his family and caring community, including teachers like Carrie Martin, Ray persevered, remained on track with his schooling, and graduated with his class. His early resilience laid the foundation for a life of quiet strength, determination, and commitment.

Ray attended Garfield Elementary, played in Loveland's first Little League baseball season in 1948, and later made the Loveland Indians high school team as a freshman. After graduating in 1955, he enrolled at Colorado A&M (now CSU). He began in pre-engineering but soon discovered forestry was his true calling. At CSU he became active in campus life, joining the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, leading the Forestry Club, and participating in Air Force ROTC. A successful kidney surgery in 1956 gave him renewed strength and hope, allowing him to build a long and active life.

On July 5, 1958, Ray eloped with Sonja June Sutter in Raton, New Mexico. After college, their lives took them to work in the U.S. Forest Service, first in Oregon and then later back home in Colorado, eventually transferring to the Colorado State Forest Service and retiring in 1995, forever devoted to caring for the land and forests. Locally, Ray contributed in many ways that would benefit future generations. He was involved in tree-planting efforts tied to Arbor Day and Tree City USA, where he worked closely with Joe Lohnes and assisted in the eradication of Dutch elm disease for over two decades, all while maintaining a tree farm in Rist Canyon with his family.

Purebred dogs and dog shows were also a passion for Ray. He was a member, officer, and show chairman for the Greeley Kennel Club. Ray and family also traveled the country, and Canada, as lifelong members of the American Kennel Club.

In 1997, Ray's family sold land to the city that became Mehaffey Park. In 2015, Mehaffey Park opened as a 64-acre recreational and natural-space park in west Loveland, forever shaping the local landscape.

Ray lived a life defined by resilience, service, and a deep appreciation for nature. His legacy, like the many trees he helped steward and the park that bears his family name, remains firmly rooted in the community he cherished. He took great pride in his family, the land, and the city that will continue to grow and thrive because of his dedication.

Services will tentatively be around Arbor Day 2026 at Mehaffey Park.