Raymond T. Newton, 88, was called by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, to his home in heaven with the many who went before him. Services are planned for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Norvel Owens Mortuary in Flagstaff, located at 914 East Route 66.

Ray was born on Dec. 31, 1921, in Mt. Dora, N.M., where he spent his childhood with seven brothers and sisters.

At age 17 he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a flight engineer on a B-29 in World War II. During this time, he met and married the love of his life, Fay Newton.

They moved to Seligman, where they raised their three children, Sharon, Raymond "Lanny" and Karen. He owned and operated a successful service station on busy Route 66. He also served as a volunteer firefighter.

One of his passions was the outdoors, where he spent some of the most memorable times hunting and fishing with his children, and later in life with his 13 grandchildren and 35 great grand-children. He also loved to tell stories of his hunting and fishing misadventures with "them ol' boys."

Raymond and Fay moved to Holbrook in 1967, where he worked for Whiting Brothers and later with Northland Pioneer College.

A highlight of his life was when he served with Wycliff Bible Translators in Suriname for three months in 1970 developing water systems for the natives.

To all his family, Ray was better known as "Grandad." The title is very fitting, as he graciously accepted the role of dad to many of his grandchildren from time to time. Most often the fatherly lessons of life were taught while on the shore of a lake with fishing poles in hand. All who knew Grandad will miss his stories, practical jokes and wisdom that he shared, all for the price of a cup of coffee.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Searles and Karen (Mike) Hartman; 13 grandchildren, Mark Searles, Matthew (Tammy) Searles, Mike (Elaine) Searles, Miles (Tammy) Searles, Mellody (Kris) Braddock, Freddy (Teresa) Newton-Pender, Kenny (Nancy) Newton-Pender, Kathy (Aran) Armstrong, Tim (Margarita) Newton-Pender, Tommy (Cheryl) Pender, Rita Basha, Renee Hartman and Ryan (Stephanie) Hartman; and 35 great-grandchildren.

In 1976, his son Lanny Newton was called to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On June 23, 1995, he also lost his wife Fay after 53 wonderful years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Ed, Ralph and Cliff, and his sister Martha.