Marva Ray

Marva Bracken Ray, 87 passed away peacefully August 13, 2016 at the home of her daughter in St. George, Utah after a very courageous battle with cancer. She was born September 8, 1928 in St. George to Marcellus Bracken and Ellen Matilda Bowler.

Mom married J Stanley Ray of Santa Clara, Utah December 1946 in Las Vegas, Nevada. That marriage was later blessed with two children, Linda and Gordon. Marva and Stanley moved from St. George in 1948 to Las Vegas, Nevada where they raised their two children. Marva and Stanley did later divorce.

Mom was raised in Gunlock, Utah, where she had many fond memories as a child growing up there. She was number 7 of 8 children and always felt she had a lot of attention especially from her older sisters.  She would often reminisce about her parents and how hard they worked to provide for a growing family as they planted a garden, raised animals and then preserving all of that food to sustain the family. She felt very blessed because her family always had plenty of good food to eat and that was not always the case with some families in the area.

She is survived by her two children; Linda (Gary) Sorensen of St. George and Gordon (Susan) Ray of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mom has 5 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren of which she was very proud of.

Mom is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a very reserved and private person that did not like a lot of “fussing“ made over her. She made her wishes very clear to all of the family that she did not want an elaborate or lengthy funeral.

A viewing will be Saturday morning August 20, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the Relief Society room of the Gunlock church. A short service will then be held at 11:00 AM in the Gunlock chapel.  Interment will immediately follow at the Gunlock cemetery located next to the church.