Ray Baugh, age 77, passed away Wednesday, November 15th at his home in Clancy. He was born in Helena on October 30, 1940 to Estella and Walter Baugh. A 1959 graduate of Jefferson High School, Ray joined the U.S. Air Force and served in several locations in the U.S. and northern Canada in the years that followed.
Returning to Clancy in the early 1960’s, Ray had a number of professions over the years. These included tile setting, logging, commercial fishing, and later a career with Mountain Bell, which ultimately took him to Denver. Ray retired from Mountain Bell and returned to Clancy.
An outdoorsman from an early age, Ray enjoyed hunting and being in the mountains. Ray seemed to have especially good luck with large mule deer in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. He also was an avid creek fisherman in his younger years and was pretty good at that too.
Ray loved his jeeps and time spent in the mountains. He always had one. For those who may remember it, he also owned the ‘Weasel’, a tracked over-the-snow vehicle from WW II. He and Clancy friends rebuilt it in the late 1960’s. Being out in the ‘Weasel’ during the winter was very special to Ray. Many friends and family were able to enjoy time with him around Clancy in it.
Throughout his life Ray was extremely generous and helpful to others. There was always someone he’d lend a hand to in some manner, and he enjoyed each person he helped throughout his life. Ray had many friends – each one was a long term relationship, not a casual one. He was a true and loyal friend.
Ray’s daughter Jessica was born in 1985 and was the light of his and Becky’s life. A testament of then-through-today is the number of photos of her throughout his house. He was extremely proud of her and her accomplishments.
Ray is survived by his daughter Jessica (and fiancé Randy Grote) of Prescott Valley, Arizona, by two sisters, Barbara Greer of Clancy and Lorraine Bayles (Bob) of Corvallis, MT, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives………and of course by many friends gathered over so many years.
The last year-and-a-half has been a special time for Ray and Barbara to spend together in Clancy, and with Lorraine and Bob too. They all had several days together at Lorraine and Bob’s the weekend before Ray’s passing. Special mention also of the life-long friendship (and more) for Ray with Becky and Alden Beard.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., a reception will follow in the social hall of the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Ray.
In lieu of flowers memorials in Ray’s honor are invited to be made to the Clancy Library, located in the Old Clancy School building in Clancy, 3 N. Main St., Clancy, MT 59634. Ray went to school there and lived within a few houses of it most of his life.
Thanks Ray, for all of us you’ve helped and provided your sincere friendship to along the way. Your generosity and kind manners made more of difference in our lives than you can ever know.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 28, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helen, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following the service
Tuesday November 28, 2017
social hall of the funeral home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the reception
Tuesday November 28, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Helena, Montana
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 28, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helen, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following the service
Tuesday November 28, 2017
social hall of the funeral home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the reception
Tuesday November 28, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Helena, Montana
Shirley Price Cole says
Barbara, Lorraine, and Ray’s fanukt, I am sending my deepest sympathy to you for the loss of your loved one. We go back very far and I guess I didn’t realize that Ray was only a year younger than I. I thought he was a lot younger. I know he struggled with that dreaded disease and now he is at peace. When we were young and running around in Clancy, we never dreamed that we would sometime be this age. Wow does time fly. I pray that you will be granted peace and blessings to you and your families.
Jean Grote says
We extend our sympathy to all the family on Ray’s passing. I’m sorry we never got to meet you Ray. From what we’ve heard you were a good friend to many & willing to help others whenever possible. We are so happy to welcome Jessica to our family and love her.
Jean & Peter Grote (Randy’s parents)
grant obert says
To Ray Baugh Becky and more important to Jessie Ray Baugh. I,ve been friends with Ray since 1978 He was a good man a loving friend and well he help me out a couple of times when I bent the rules at the phone company never broke just bent them a few times! Ray and I spent as much time as he could spare with me! I in fact talked to him just before he passed! I’ll never forget him he was almost like a father to me! God Bless you Ray I’ll miss you calling me PUTts and me calling you moron, from the movie Grumpy Old Men! It was always a joke between us! He always loaned me stuff, and I always loaned him what ever I had! I’ll miss you my friend Grant P. Obert
Jon Rush says
I learned of Rays death on my trip Polson to help my daughter. I will be up here till the weekend following Thanksgiving so I wasn’t at the services. I met Ray when we both worked on the third floor of the phone company at the 560 building. During at least one trip to Denver for the company we spent time together after dinners walking the grounds and we talked to each other about our lives back at home. It seems so long ago and after I left the company we spent too little time together after I left and that was my fault. I remember Ray stood up for me to try my not to be let go and and combine our departments. That was a kindness he exhibited to me. He spoke of Jessica quite a bit these years and I shared my children’s adventures to Ray. This is the second wonderful person that made my life the better (Chris Warren passed a few weeks ago for those her and her family for their time in Clancy. If a memorable card was distributed during the ceremony
could you send one to me at 720 Holter Helena . Jon Rush
Dick Hausken says
Barbara and Jessica, my brothers and I send our sympathy to you at the loss of your brother and Dad. Jessica, my grandmother, Esther Osmundsen was your Dad’s neighbor and she always appreciated the friendship of your family and knowing that Barbara and your cousins and later your Dad were there in case anything happened. I always think of Clancy and the people that live there and the good memories I have of them.
Dick Hausken
Portland, Oregon