Raymond Edward Hoy born Dec. 14, 1938, to Raymond and Edna Summers Hoy in Salmon. They soon moved to Montana where Ray grew up and graduated from Dillon High School. He joined the Navy, served a short time before being honorably discharged. Upon returning to Montana he met and married Marge Barry. They resided in Butte, Mont. Ray had six children, Paul, Tim, Elizabeth, Raymond, Edward and Heather.

Ray worked construction for a short time but like most men in Butte he went into the mines. He loved the underground work, even until he retired, he swore he would rather work underground. After six years in the mine he said there was no way his sons would work as hard rock miners, so he took an electricians coarse off a book of matches and taught himself at home. When he finished the coarse and got a journeyman’s license he quit the mines and moved the family to Coeur d’Alene. He then worked for Tom’s Electric, then opened his own business, Coeur d’Alene Electric. He took a job with the city of Boise for a short time, and the moved back to Coeur d’Alene to work for Diamond International. After many years at Diamond he went to work as an inspector for the state of Idaho. He was transferred to Boise where he and his new bride, Connie lived in Napa. He worked for the state until he retired.

Ray liked a good argument and didn’t like political B.S. He seemed to fit into the task though. In his later years he started to enjoy fishing again. As he would go off alone salmon fishing. I never did figure out where the fish stand was that he got his fish, probably one that his dad used to back a good fish story.

He had many friends and was well respected in his field of work. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Edna Hoy; brother Fred Downs; sisters, Margaret Hunt and Betty Woodland. He leaves behind wife, Connie; sisters and their husbands, Wilma Hughes Higgins, Dean and Dick Campbell, and Janet and Dave Oakley; sons, Paul and Tim; daughter Elizabeth Hoy; sons and their wives, Raymond and Terri Hoy, and Edward and Dawn Hoy; daughter Heather Hoy-Eddy; stepsons, Frank Garcia and wife Sarah, and Steven Garcia; stepdaughter Rena Garcia Allen and husband Bruce; and daughter-in-law Kitty Hoy. Grandchildren, Adrian Hoy, Jennifer Doane, Katrina and Tom George, Danny Cutting, Raymond (Joe) and Crystal Schneider, Jake and Hannah Hoy, Taylor Hoy and Amber, William and Riley Eddy, and Freddy and Zane Garcia. Great-grandchildren, Claire, Lincoln, Jack, Cameron, Emmalyn and Kiara; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and family.

We will celebrate Ray’s life beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 28, 2013, at the Ivalee Hall in Post Falls. Please bring your favorite drink and a story to share. Goodbye we love and miss you!