Raymond Leon Stone was born Sept. 2, 1923, in Craigmont to Myra and Elmer Stone. He passed away June 17, 2013, at Hospice House of North Idaho.

He graduated from high school in 1941, attended Lewiston Normal for two quarters and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from February 1942 to January 1946 as a parachute infantryman in the 82nd Airborne. He participated in three campaigns in the European Theater including the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star and the Eisenhower Liberation Award. He served as active postmaster in Winchester and was employed part-time as a lumber worker while attending college. He was employed by the U.S. Forest Service for nine years as an aerial observer.

His education was continued at many colleges including Shrivenham University in England, University of Wyoming, University of California-Berkely, San Diego State, Stanford University and University of Oregon. He held three degrees from Whitworth University.

He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jeanne Boyle, on July 8, 1944, in San Angelo, Texas. They had a son, Daniel, who passed away in November 2001. He taught at Coeur d’Alene High School and North Idaho College where he served as Dean for 28 years. He was on the city council for two terms and served as mayor of Coeur d’Alene for two terms.

Ray had his own band, the Coeur d’Alene Swing Band, where he played the drums for many years on The Coeur d’Alene Resort Floating Stage, New Years Eve dances at the Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn and six years at the North Idaho Fair. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed his many golfing friends.

Ray was a past member of Coeur d’Alene Rotary, VFW, American Legion, Kootenai Lodge 24 AF and AM, and Scottish Rite Bodies of the Coeur d’Alene Consistory Shrine Calam Temple in Lewiston. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, the Board of Trustees and as a Sunday School teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; a brother, Charles of Loveland, Colo.; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Tom Swinson of Sarasota, Fla.; beloved friend and caregiver, Kathie Cole; cousins, Patty and Dick Burton of Spokane; three grandchildren, Michelle, Angie and Chris; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church (Sixth and Lakeside), Coeur d’Alene, with Yates Funeral Home in care of the arrangements. Interment will follow at Forest Cemetery with full military honors. A reception will follow the burial at the church.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, the Humane Society, North Idaho College Foundation or the charity of choice. You may visit Ray’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.