- Date Of Birth: February 19, 1935
- Date Of Death: January 20, 2017
- State: Idaho
Raymond “Ray” Allen Pritiken passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017, at 81. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Dorothy Pritiken. He was born in Cooke County, Illinois on February 19, 1935, to Marion M. Adams and Joseph O. Pritiken. He grew up in and around Chicago, Illinois with his sisters, Elaine and Marilyn. After his parents’ divorce, he moved back and forth between Illinois and Weiser, Idaho. He attended one year in a military academy in Chicago, and graduated from High School in Weiser, Idaho. His father remarried during that time and Ray gained a step-brother, Paul Orsay.
He met his first wife, Alene Marie Rogers, in Weiser. He worked on a ranch near Ontario, then joined the Army to gain permission from Alene’s father to marry Alene. They were married on April 11, 1955, in Weiser, and were married for 24 years. During their marriage, they were blessed with five wonderful children: Roger Joseph, Michael “Mike” Allen, Christopher “Chris” John, Raelene “Rae” Marie, and Colene Suellen Pritiken.
Shortly after the birth of their first child, Ray and Alene were stationed in Italy.
Ray was a gracious and kind man who was very intelligent. He always put others before himself. He was sweet, kind, and loveable.
Ray was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Marilyn, and his son Michael Pritiken. He leaves behind a large extended family including: his wife Dorothy Pritiken; his uncle Rod and aunt Ruth Scurlock; his sister Elaine Smith, and his step-brother Paul Orsay; his children: Roger and Therese Pritiken, Patti Pritiken, Christopher “Chris” and Kathleen Pritiken, Raelene and Ron McDonough, Colene Pritiken, Cricket and Edsel Stallings, Cheryl “Widget” and Mark Beighley, and Jean and Ben Urizar. His grandchildren are: Andrew, Timothy, and Mollie Pritiken, and Devon Jones; Jessica, Megan, and Natalie Pritiken; Olivia Pritiken, and Jameson Jefferson Ray and Ashton Michael Pritiken-Bittle; Kenna and Brienne Bolen; Jessica and Brittney McDonough; Aaron, Camille, Travis, Toby, Adam, and Annie Stallings; Kevin Adler; Seth, Trevor, Tucker, and Heaven Russi; Mikale, Micah, and Trey Urizar. Great-grandchildren: Carter and Jackson Pritiken; Bradley Villaneuva, Stryder and Paige Stallings; Kaitlyn, Taylor, and Abby Adler; Eden and Fiora Urizar; and Ava and Aryton Urizar. He also has numerous nieces and nephews.
Grandpa Ray, you will be missed.
I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me now, He set me free.
