Dale Ray

     Dale Ray has already been introduced, having been born 29 March 1966 while Dale was still in school.

     Dale Ray's name was chosen by his father, Dale. Dale after himself and Ray after Dale's father. The name Ray is also found on my side of the family. My brother Raymond was often addressed outside of the family, as Ray. My father's youngest brother was Ray LeRoy Perry and happened to be the age of Dale's brother Ray. They both went to Uintah High School, and probably graduated the same year.
     As soon as Dale Ray was old enough he liked to explore, test things, and climb. One day while living in the Webster Apartments we made our necessary trip to the laundromat. I parked the truck right in front while I carried the laundry basket inside, leaving him for just a minute or two, before returning for him. As I approached the truck, I could see Kleenex tissues being tossed into the air. I found him surrounded by tissues, a brand new large empty tissue box was over turned. My toe-headed baby was almost hid in tissues and smiling about his new clever discovery. He certainly could make mischief in a flash. It seemed to me that he had it planned ahead and quickly took advantage at his short alone times. 

Dale Ray, 9 months,
Webster Apartment
Christmas Eve, December 24, 1967 nine months old.
He'd climbed on the table and was just starting to throw
oranges when we quickly snapped this picture, and then interrupted his fun. 

    At Mother and Dad's, he liked to climb to the top of the refrigerator as that is where things were put out of his reach. One time he made it right on top before he was discovered. His secret passage had been from chair to cabinet, to stove, to the stove's instrument panel, to the very top of the refrigerator. There he was found sitting munching on some candy that had been put out of his reach. His head wasn't too far from the ceiling. The toilet caught him though when his potty training was in full swing. One day we heard him making a strange "ugh-ugh-ugh" noise. He had fallen in butt first. All we could see was the bottom of his feet and the top of his blonde head. He was happy to be rescued from that adventure.
     Other than our Salt Lake City, Cedar City, and Provo's short living he was raised in LaPoint. Once we were settled in LaPoint, Dale never wanted to relocate anywhere else. Occasionally, I would suggest a move and he'd reply with a "good-bye" meaning "you can move but I'm staying here". He liked raising a garden, and being outdoors. He does not like having neighbors too close. This gave Dale Ray and his siblings, that were yet to come, a lot of roaming area. Cousins were close. More were to come and they would be like brothers and sisters, and have been throughout the years. LaPoint has a great sense of peace and safety. I have learned to respect and honor my early years of being raised in LaPoint and the safety it afforded our children.

Grandmother and Dale Ray
Evelyn and Venna

Posing for Kent's project.
Dale Ray, 3 years old.

     Dale Ray saw his Grandmother Vera Van Leuven at least once a week. And Uncle Kent was home often. Salt Lake cousins came occasionally. Grandmother's small home buzzed with new acquaintances and her small backyard afforded another space to play with more cousins being born into the family on the Van Leuven side. He became familiar with the names and faces of Aunt Evelyn Hacking, Grandmother Johnson, Jeanne and Earl Gross, Uncle Duayne and Aunt Venna Johnson. Ray and Jeanine Van Leuven came with their family occasionally. His grandmother (Vera Van Leuven) flew to Salt Lake taking him on his first and maybe only airplane ride.
     His uncle, Kent Van Leuven, had a talent for art, Dale Ray posed for him so he could enter a contest in photography. Dale Ray was more than happy to act the part.
     He rode the bus to Vernal to attend Maeser Elementary, Vernal Junior High, and Uintah High School graduating in 1984. 

Uintah High School, 1984

Eagle Scout

    He was raised as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, advancing in the priesthood. And earned his Eagle Scout. 
     Dale Ray gained an interest in mechanics while in high school. His shop teacher made a great impression on him. One school day, he stayed late after school to finish a project. When I went to pick him up it was after the sun had set. As Dale Ray got into the car, he looked back over to where his teacher stood in the lit open bay door. Dale Ray said, "He may not look like much but that is one special man."
     After graduation he got a job at Dee's Mini Lube in Roosevelt. Along with working, he enrolled at Uintah Basin Applied Technology College in Roosevelt. He graduated as a certified mechanic in 1987.
     Grandmother Vera Van Leuven had her blue Skylark Buick totaled while backing from her driveway. The accident damaged the rear-end of her car. She gave the car to Dale Ray because he needed a motor for his Grandparents, Leland and Velma Perry's red buick of the same make and model. He removed both motors in one day, and replaced the good one into the red Buick. This became Dale Ray's first car. He loved the car!

Buick on Colorado lot waiting
for its true face lift

 

Pontiac Sunbird

      After he had obtained a truck and a Pontiac Sunbird which also required his skilled hands and mind, we had him give his brother Trent his rebuilt Buick. The Buick was his favorite car. Where was our thinking? Our parental minds was surely on vacation! Dale Ray a Christ-like giver obeyed without much resistance, but looking back I know it was a hard thing for him to do. Trent received it free, and never really took care of the car as he should have done. Trent and I took it to Macco in Grand Junction, Colorado and got a new paint job, soft white vinyl top, and bumpers changed. It looked liked a new car. It should have been Dale Ray's, even though the yard was full of his vehicles. This turned to be a lesson in misjudgment and poor planning in the eyes and minds of his parents (his mother, especially). A cause, for repentance! We did not consult his true feelings at the time. We can't cry over spilled milk!, but I'm sure Dale Ray's heart ached after seeing the car after it was brought home.

Man! He is one cool guy!

     Dale Ray has always had a cheerful smile, and an uplifting laugh. He has done so even when we know his heart was breaking. Unaware he lifts others with his pleasant personality.

Dale Ray (age 2) always
smiling, even
during the hardest
of times. 

     We have many fun and fond memories of his growing up years. Most memories he will have to save for his own personal history, or this history will become volumes. 
     I will relate one. One day he told me a story about an imaginary character. I had no idea the real character was himself. He was actually feeling me out to see if I'd heard he had not came home directly after discovering the teacher was not at mutual. Instead with their supervision absent his friends and he got creative and decided they'd have a fun activity of their own. The group of ten to twelve teenagers drove to the LaPoint Cemetery with the intent to scare the wits out of the girls they had invited as their unaware victims. He was well aware that if his father learned the fire works would be compatible to those of the 4th of July.  He said, "Mom, I have this really funny story to tell you." This was not a rarity for him. Dale Ray enjoyed telling a story that would cause some laughter. He began, "There was once a guy that fell into a empty grave that he and his friends were unaware had been dug in preparation for a burial the next day. They were running through the cemetery as fast as they could chasing screaming girls and feeling a bit spooked themselves. Unaware his friends did not know he accidentally ran right into an empty hole ready for the placement of the vault and casket. He hit really hard knocking his breath out. Once he felt he had recovered he begin to make several failed attempts to get himself out of the deep, straight edged hole. He began to yell for help but his friends were making so much noise he could not get their attention. One friend, ran so close that he wondered how they possibly ran by without joining him. Finally, he realized that all he needed to do was be patient as likely another would fall in soon. Sure enough! One of his good buddies fell into the hole. The guy in the hole said, "IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!" To his amazement his good friend leaped out of the hole without much difficulty. In fact, he seemed to go straight up with one huge step, surfacing the top kicking a little dirt back in on the one still in the dark hole (it was a moonless night). Without missing a beat he could hear him running away in high gear. He said out loud, "Holy crap! How did he do that!" I laughed until I was sick, finally I was able to say, "Dale Ray that is about the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life." I giggled for several days after. I'm sure he knew at that point it had not reached the ears of his unassuming parents. 
     Years passed. In a circle of those sharing their past escapades, the once imaginary character became "I". It was not a laughing matter anymore! I was then concerned about other things, such as his safety in a dangerous game. We had trusted that he was at mutual and I unaware had kept a secret all those years.
     Now for the rest of the story. His buddy Cary Hamilton, had ran in pure fright all the way home through the fields and fences. He was in bed and faking a sound sleep when his brother Jimmy, arrived home driving their family vehicle. Jimmy had seen Cary running from the cemetery, and became concerned. The next morning as Cary boarded the bus. Dale Ray said to him, "Hey, man! What happened to you last night?" Cary's replied, "I don't want to talk about!" He went straight to the back of the bus. Dale Ray has wondered if maybe Cary probably thought he had been to hell and back. Occasionally, we now enjoy a good laugh again, when he retells this experience. Dale Ray can tell it just right! Yes, it is true! It really did happen.

With date (Cystal Newman at Prom)

All dressed up for Prom.
Dale Ray and his cousin
Danette Young.

     Oh my, I have to tell one more. 
     The Ammets lived in the middle of town and raised goats. The baby goats roamed inside and outside of their home. Often leaving their droppings. Not far from the house on their one acre lot was where Mama and Papa goats resided in their pens. Likewise, their cleaning maids could never find the time to make their residence more livable. Though the goat milk was taken daily for the needs of the family and sold to whoever. Their neighbors and down-wind neighbors could often smell the goats and often complained about it to themselves. At least two of the Van Leuven family two blocks away, needed a lesson on charity. Dale Ray, Brian Huber and his brother Larry, were just the ones to get the lesson introduced. They decided to egg the A-a-a-mmets, A-a-a-mets the teenage boys would mimic, the sound like a goat while teasing the Ammet's pretty daughters. One egg left one of their skillful hand and made a bulls-eye right on their front door, just as Sister Ammet rounded the corner returning home from mutual. The full moon made the deed apparent, but she wasn't sure who the three teenage rascals were. She thought she recognize one as a Huber boy. She called his mother Jennie. They didn't have long to wait. Brian just could not keep from bragging the next morning on the school bus. Jennie called me to tell me that our boys had egged Ammet's front door. Dale Ray was home in good time from mutual so Dale and I never suspected anything shady. Jennie and Sister Ammett already had the perfect plan, I agreed with it completely. Dale Ray also suffered from his dad's punishment and a few fireworks besides. The boys had goat pens to clean. It didn't turn out to be an easy assignment. The spring thaw was in full swing. They got our truck stuck in the smelly mucky muck. Then the Huber's tractor and spreader got mired. They had to wait two or three weeks for the ground to dry before they could complete the assignment. One can only imagine how badly Dale Ray and his friends smelled when they finally finished the job for a happy neighbor that needed their pens badly cleaned, and another grateful neighbor that got their garden fertilized. At least two or three loads of poo (goat manure) were shoveled and hauled before the job was finished. Each labored load had to pass Dale as he was working in the yard, and he would greet them with a cheery comment. The boys could only be grateful for their hats that they pulled down over their embarrassed eyes and grunt a comment back. Dale Ray was required to strip on the back porch and his clothing was not washed but burned. They were each awarded a small loaf of bread made of goat milk. As Dale Ray entered our back door much humbled and a new found love that service brings carrying the bread in his unwashed hand. He handed the bread to me saying, "Here Mom. Sister Ammet gave me this bread in thanks for getting her goat pen cleaned." I held back a noticeable gag. He very quickly said, "COME ON MOM! LETS GO EGG THE EMMETT'S!" Dale Ray learned to love his neighbor through serving, and I was taught another lesson by my son. A lesson of respect for the gracious giver.

Dale Ray's first birthday cake at grandmother's in
Vernal. We had just as much fun watching him as he
did tearing the cake apart. Notice he hasn't even had a
real taste. It was all a matter of exploring.

     Cakes! Birthday cakes became a tradition. Starting with Dale Ray we started celebrating each child's birthday twice. Once at grandmother Van Leuven's and then at home. Grandmother enjoyed making and decorating a cake for each birthday child. Also it became a tradition to go visit Grandmother every Sunday as long as she lived in Vernal. We missed her a lot when she moved, but that didn't happen for many years to come. Most of the children were maturing beyond early birthday cake years when she moved to Salt Lake City. They were fun while they lasted, and are still a fond memory of AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY at Grandmother Van Leuven's. The cake we had at home was not always decorated as Grandmother's cake was, but we developed another tradition. We waited until after dark to light the candles so we could turn out the lights and sing "Happy Birthday" by candle light. Small things often are the fondest memories, especially, when they connect us to people that are not with us anymore.
     Dale Ray married Marlo Church, 26 March 1988, the daughter of Wallace Heaps Church and Judy Walker Church of Vernal, Utah.

Marlo Church Van Leuven

They were sealed in the Saint George Utah Temple on 18 June 1990. They divorced 7 November 2007. Dale Ray has raised the children as a single parent since their split about September, 2006. Dale Ray and Marlo have the following children:

Justin Dale, 26 October 1990, born in St. George, Washington, Utah

Cody Ray, 3 July 1993, born in Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Devyn Wallace, 12 July 1995, born in Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Mylee, (stillborn) about December 1998, Hailey, Blaine, Idaho

Colby D., 6 December, 2000, Vernal, Uintah, Utah

Tiger Leland, (stillborn), 24 May 2002, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Utah

Bre Anna, 30 April, 2003, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Utah

Hannah, (stillborn), about August 2005, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Utah
 

April 12, 2009

    The picture at the left is one of the last pictures taken of Dale Ray's family. Justin was unable to be with the family the day of the picture because of a job.
     Dale Ray always has had a pleasant, happy, kind, and giving personality. His energy is calm and peaceful.

Bus cooling at the side of some pines.
First day of our Nauvoo trip and we recognized
our first miracle.

       His kind and giving personality came forth in all its glory, when he purchased a bus and transported his family to the church sights in the summer of 2005. We toured Liberty Jail, Winter Quarters, Hannibal, MO, Carthage Jail, Nauvoo, Illinois, Adam-ondi-Ahman attended a session in the new Nauvoo Temple, and the children that were old enough did baptisms. A trip that will never be forgotten. The bus had some mechanical problems that took many prayers to keep it running. Prayers that were answered with miracles. Our first experience came in the steep mountain roads of Colorado. The bus over heated causing us to disembark while it cooled off. Later, after we arrived at the bottom of our dissent, we discovered a horrible accident that was likely right in our path. It was clear that we had been protected. Mortal angels were placed before us three different times, when we needed a bus part or tool. When we needed help they were there for us. My deceased father's spiritual presence was felt as another repair was accomplished. The trip is a cherished memory by us all. The trip home was without any problems. As the early pioneer Saints crossed the plains, they were meet with much opposition. We did it according to our scheduled time, arriving home the day we had planned. Which was another recognized miracle.

Trent and Dale Ray checking out the bus. 
David standing nearby after helping to figure
out a motor problem.

     Dale Ray has been well acquainted with afflictions (troubles and trials) during his life, especially since he left home. Afflictions are an important part of the Father's great plan. Afflictions benefit the Lord's children by:
  l.  Delivering his children from pride. 2 Corinthians 12: 7-11. The Apostle Paul can help us understand.
 2.  Changing the unsympathetic person to becoming sympathetic, merciful and slow to judge. Jacob 2:16-21
 3.  Reminding his children of the brevity of this life. Psalm 90:12.  
 4.  Humbling and stirring one to pray and submit to God's will.
 5.  Giving Jesus Christ the opportunity to display His power. Again, we can learn from reading prayerfully 2 Corinthians chapter 12.
 6.  Leaning upon His word and learning our status with Him. Psalms 119:71.
 7.  Helping the people see His tender mercies, comfort and comforts He provides. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
 8.  Proving the reality of God's grace in our lives. Read President Howard W. Hunter's talk on endurance titled, "God Will Have a Tried People".
 9.  Helping to teach gratitude and thanksgiving. Psalms 50:15.
10. Teaching faith, patience, perseverance, gentleness, and long suffering.
11. Teaching His wandering children to love Him, love God. Romans 8:35-39
12. Making His children to be like Him. The goal is to find Him and follow His purposes and be obedient to His word molding us and perfecting us into His image. While molding one, he molds others that are soft-hearted and teachable. The hard-hearted are the persecutors. Once we understand all of this, our testimonies soar.
     Marlo had serious prescription addictions which won out over being a wife and mother. After Marlo left the family, Dale Ray married Elizabeth Anne Tomlinson Sharp. Liz lost her first husband, David, and father of ten in a terrible oilfield accident. They had difficulty blending their families and divorced after several attempts to make the marriage succeed. They divorced and married three times trying to make things work. Evan, and the older married children still mourned their father's loss. Levi and Wyatt needed a father. Bre Anna, Colby and Devyn were in need of a mother. The rest didn't seem to see the need. 

A day at Lagoon as a blended family.
Left to right back row: Devyn Van Leuven, Cody Van Leuven, Dale Ray Van Leuven,
Justin Van Leuven and Evan Sharp
Left to right front row: Colby Van Leuven, Bre Anna Van Leuven, Mackenzie Sharp,
Elizabeth 'Liz' Sharp Van Leuven, Kim with son Carsen, Wyatt Sharp and Levi Sharp

     Today 2 July, 2016, he has six grandchildren. He married Myra G. Buker Smith whom he had met and dated before he married Liz. They married 1 June 2012 and they are separated at this time. 
    
     At the head of the table Dale Ray leaning into the conversation with his cousins. At right of him is Bre Anna with head on his shoulder and son Colby in white shirt and tie at the left behind Micah Carlson, then it is Jerry Young, and Chad Merkley, Right side of the table. Front to back- Shannon Carlson, Greg Carlson and Anthony Carlson. Taken July 8, 2016, day of Lanette's funeral. Reminiscing after luncheon.       
     Reminiscing brought one more forgotten story back. Mother had Raymond's bedroom decorated with American decor, in honor of his service in United Stakes Intelligence. The bedspread was a light neutral color with blue fringe and the American seal in the middle. The drapes and closet drape matched the spread.

One day of baby setting service to three sweet innocent grandsons she lost her patience. They had found a magic marker and proceeded to add some charm to the seal of the United States. Then like all fine artist they signed their names beyond the seal's border. After the fine deed was done and play went in another path of interests. Mother discovered their fine art. The three boys found out they had one mad grandmother! She called them forth to the bedroom lined them up like fine soldiers and started her interrogation. "Who did this?!" The most innocence of faces each uttered, "I don't know." Their signatures condemned them to army prison (the couch), until more humble, honest repentance came forth. All the guilty, was then about 5-6 years old. Mother still had the bedspread when she passed away. Dale Ray spoke for the bed covering and still has it in his care. Those found guilty were Dale Ray Van Leuven, Shannon Carlson, and Chad Merkley. Jerry Young would have been in on it, but the Young's were living in Fruita, Colorado at the time. 

    At the present 17 July, 2016, Dale Ray has eight grandchildren;

Rayden, Trace, Fynley, Declan (Justin's) 
Callie Ray (Cody's)

Kellin, Quinley (added during an update today 9-26-17) (Devyn's)

Breeza, Steven (Step-grandchildren)