Ray Deschamps, 93, died Saturday, August 13, 2005 in a Boise care center.

He was born September 2, 1911 in Malad, Idaho, the fifth child and third son of David Stephens and Mary Blanche Davis Deschamps. He grew up on the family ranch in St. John and received his early education in St. John. Ray graduated from High School in Malad in 1930. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural economics from Utah State University in 1934 and his Master of Science degree in Farm Management in 1937 from Oregon State University.

Ray served in the army in World War II, stationed in the United States.

Ray married his High School sweetheart, Betty King, on December 25, 1959. Ray and Betty had been married for 60 years at the time of her death in 1995.

Ray worked for the Federal Government for 34 years, first for the Department of Agriculture and later for the Department of Interior. His last seven years of employment was with USAID in the Foreign Service. Throughout these years he and his family lived in many places. These include Portland, Grant’s Pass and Corvallis in Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Amarillo, Texas; Arlington, Virginia; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Billings, Montana; Bogota, Colombia; Managua, Nicaragua; and Caracas, Venezuela.

After he retired in 1968, he and Betty lived in Tucson, Arizona, for 26 years until poor health necessitated a move to Boise, Idaho, where they could be near their daughter. During their years in Arizona Ray devoted much of his time to perfecting his artistic skills. He became proficient in oil and ceramic tile painting. What had formerly been only a hobby became a profession with his oils hanging in many homes and his tile address paintings decorating a number of housing developments.

Ray and Betty loved to travel and had visited many countries in Central and South America, the Orient, and the Near East. They had also visited Australia, New Zealand and Russia.

He was a member of the LDS Church, serving in many capacities through the years. He was a Sunday School teacher, Stake Genealogy Advisor, President of the YMMIA, Counselor in the Bishopric, and Assistant to the High Priest Group Leader.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #65 continuous for 58 years.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Diane (Mrs. Scott) Robertson of Boise, Idaho, and six grandchildren: Colin (Samantha), Noelle, and Jason (Chris) Robertson of Seattle, Washington, and Whitney (Brent) Edward, Ann and Gage (McKinsey) Robertson of Utah. Seven great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Abigail and Brooke Edward, Max, Ethan, Fiona and Miles Robertson and two sisters, Shelba Dredge and Blanche Weston, also survive him.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 20, with people first gathering at the Benson-Horsley Mortuary at 12:30 p.m. and then proceeding to the Malad Cemetery.