Ray Crist
Raymond Leslie Crist, 63, died Oct. 27, 2003, at Salina Regional Health Center.
Born Oct. 12, 1940, in Florence, he was the first child born to Raymond "Max" and Virginia (Young) Crist.
When he was in the first grade the family moved to Canton, and he graduated from Canton High School with the class of 1959.
Two weeks after graduation Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following basic training in San Diego he was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station before being assigned to the USS Strong. His tours of duty took him to Cuba several times and the Bay of Pigs, the North Atlantic, Italy, France, and the Mediterranean Sea.
While home on leave he met Leanna McCrady and they were married six weeks after his discharge on June 29, 1963.
In September 1963, the couple moved to Hoisington, and Ray worked for Marlette Mobile Homes in Great Bend. He then went to work for Santa Fe Railroad in the Middle Division where he was a section foreman and track supervisor for 19 of his 20 years employment there.
In August 1973, the family moved to Abilene, where they lived for 14 years until moving to Marion in 1987.
Following an on-the-job injury in 1993 that resulted in early retirement at age 52, Ray enrolled in evening courses at Butler County Community College, Marion, where he accumulated 32 hours of credit.
He also became active in Valley United Methodist Church and enjoyed teaching and making projects for Bible school each summer.
In 1997, they moved to Minneapolis to be near children and grandchildren. Ray provided transportation for grandchildren to preschool and school and seldom missed a grandchild's ball game in Minneapolis or Salina.
In the spring of 2001 he was elected to the Minneapolis City Council and planned to run for mayor at the next election.
He was preceded in death by his father and infant brother, Marvin Crist.
Survivors include his wife, Leanna; two daughters and a son-in-law, Leslie and Darwin Belvill of Minneapolis and Lisa Crist of Hoisington; three grandchildren; his mother, Virginia Crist of McPherson; a brother; sister; and many relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Oct. 30 at First United Methodist Church in Minneapolis with the Rev. Dr. Don Snyder of Wichita and Pastor Helen Martin officiating.
Burial was in Highland Cemetery with full military honors.
