Obituary: Kyer, Leonard “Ray”
He was born in Spencer, West Virginia on September 10, 1927 to Henry R. and Minnie (Hoff) Kyer.
Ray was the second youngest of five children and was called “Babe” as a child.
He did not know that was not his name until he started first grade.
He grew up in Spencer and left home at the age of 17 when he “fibbed” about his age so he could join the Merchant Marines.
He returned after two years, completed high school, and graduated in 1946.
Joining the Air Force was next for Ray and, while stationed in Denver, Colorado, he met the love of his life, Jean, on a blind date.
They were married 46 days after they met and enjoyed 53 1/2 years together before Jean’s passing in 2003.
Ray made the Air Force his career for 21 years and with their children, Don, Lindy and Kathy, they had many adventures in the United States and overseas.
After retiring in 1968 in Colorado, Ray began his second career selling real estate.
He helped develop many areas in the mountains of Breckenridge and Vail before he and Jean headed to Idaho in 1971.
They lived in Coeur d’Alene for a few years before moving to Sandpoint and settling there for more than 20 years.
Ray continued to sell real estate and develop properties.
He was very proud of the fact that he developed Spirit Lake East and laid out all of the roads himself.
During this time he and Jean had taken up sailing which led them to Lake Pend Oreille and Bayview.
They spent many hours on their sailboat, the “Orange Crush”, on the lake.
Ray retired from real estate and spent his time in Bayview working with the MacDonald family at the Hudson Bay Resort Marina.
He loved being there every day visiting with friends and helping anyone in need……he was a helper there for 35 years.
During the winter months he and Jean enjoyed spending time in Yuma, Arizona.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters and his beloved wife, Jean.
He is survived by son Don, Kodiak, Alaska; daughter Lindy (Mark) Magness, Grand Forks, North Dakota; daughter Kathy (Butch) Marks, Rathdrum, Idaho; grandchildren Jason (Chelsey), Andy (Tammy), Robis, Brian, Jerid (Rachael), Jake (Jessica), and Missi Marks; great-grandchildren Keegan, AJ, Cayden, Kayla, Heather, Ethan, Emma, Kandyce and great-great-granddaughter Anna, and many nieces and nephews.
Others who were very dear to him were Gary and Mary MacDonald and family, Dot and Cash Stone, Mike Maxson, Riley and Jordan Smith, and co-workers and friends at the marina.
A memorial service will be held next summer.
The family would like to thank the staff at Life Care Center of Post Falls and Hospice of North Idaho for caring for Ray.
Memorials can be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, Idaho 83835.
You will always be in our hearts, Daddy…..we are filled with joy knowing you and mom are together again.
YATES FUNERAL HOME has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.
Please visit Ray’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.