Obituary of Ray Henry

Ray William Henry, 99, of Genoa, CO passed away on September 14, 2014 at the nursing home/care center in Hugo, CO. Ray William Henry was born on January 27, 1915 to Frederick “Fred” and Mary Luetta Gerkin Henry. The homestead farm was 18 miles north and ½ miles east of Bovina, in Shaw, Colorado. Their home was a sod house near Arickaree Creek. Ray was the first of six children born to Fred and Luetta. Ray attended the Bobtail school through sixth grade until he was needed to help with the farm. Ray often enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood and young adult life on the farm. Stories such as the rabbit drives they had to have due to the rabbits being so numerous that they were devastating the crops and being with his father along a fence line when other ranchers wanted to cut their fence line (e.g., Range wars). Ray first met his wife to be, Zellah Carter, at a church box lunch social. Ray was intent on winning the bid on Zellahs’ box lunch, wanting to meet this beautiful young woman he had just laid eyes on for the first time. Some other young men raised the bid up to around five dollars, but Ray was determined and won the bid. The rest was history. Ray and Zellah were married at Zellah’s sister, Velma and husband Evan Echternacth’s home in Denver CO on February 13, 1936. To this union were born eight children, Donald, Delbert, Dean, Donna, David, Doris, Darroll, and Darvon. The first year Ray and Zellah lived with her parents, helping out on the farm as grandpa was away quite a bit working. Ray worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression on projects such as building the Genoa school to spraying grasshoppers and spent time in or near the Limon Breaks mining coal. From 1940 – 46 Ray worked for Roy Ewing farming and in 1946 the family moved into Genoa, where he was a loyal and devoted custodian at the Genoa school for 27 years. Ray was a faithful member of the Genoa Methodist Church and the Genoa Community Church for years. He was a wonderful, dedicated husband, father and grandpa. Ray became a jack of most trades, fixing a lot of things at work and at home himself. After retiring from the school, Ray and his wife worked at the Silver Spur Motel for a number of years. In retirement Ray enjoyed the Senior Center in Genoa and I have been told he was one of the individuals that kept it going. Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Zellah; sons Donald and Dean; daughter in-law, Sharon (Dean); son in-law, Earl Silsbee (Donna); parents Fred and Mary Luetta; siblings Edna, Daisy, Roy, Mabel, Laura, and William, and granddaughter, Rene (Rick) Henry. Ray is survived by daughter in-law, Rose Henry of Genoa; six children, Delbert and wife, Joyce of Brush; Donna Silsbee of Flagler; David and wife, Margaret of Baker City, OR; Doris Tolley and husband, Bill of North Pole, AK; Darroll and wife, Susan of Tucson, AZ; Darvon and wife, Laura of Florissant; 20 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren, and 40 great-great grandchildren. Amongst other things, Ray enjoyed collecting miniature cars, playing cards, billiards, and loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. Ray loved the Lord and it was evident in all he did. Ray had the gift of service to others and it was evident in his life. Ray made many friends over his long life and will be dearly missed. Many of the nursing home staff, where he spent the last couple years, were endeared to him, and thought of him as something of a grandfather. It was very hard to see Ray the way he was in his last days, but there is total confidence and comfort that he is dancing with joy and peace now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.