We are saddened to announce that Dr. Rey V. Luce, Jr., passed away on October 13, 2022 just as he would have wished: quietly, without fanfare or regrets, and surrounded by his family whose love was immeasurable and knew how blessed they were to have a parent with such a strong moral compass and a profound sense of medical service and duty.

Rey was born into a medical family on July 10, 1933, in Akron, Ohio. His grandfather, Joseph, was a horse and buggy family doctor in Wisconsin. His father, Rey Sr., was an orthopedic surgeon who served on the battlefields in WWI and later became Chief of Staff at Akron General, overseeing the hospital during WWII. His mother Charlotte, a Registered Nurse, is likely responsible for his profound lifelong respect for nursing as a profession. Just before the start of high school, Rey’s family relocated to Santa Rosa, California. He graduated with his undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1955, where he was a member of the Stanford golf team. In 1958, he married his first wife Darlene, and in 1959 he graduated from Stanford Medical School, and their first son, Rey III, was born. Three years later, they welcomed their first daughter, Robin. In 1974, now married to his second wife, Terry, his third child, Sarah was born. They then relocated to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where his fourth child, Brian was born in 1976. Rey remained in Coeur d’Alene for the remainder of his life.

His second marriage over, Rey married Carrie in 1983, and with Carrie he found the deep connection and soul mate that he had longed for his entire life, until her passing in 2016. This was the happiest and most content phase of his life and it was a wonderful finale and summation to a life well-lived, one with extraordinary purpose and intent. He is survived by his son, Rey III, (wife, Adrienne; daughters, Ann, Mary and Jane); his daughter, Robin, (husband, Sean; sons, Ryan and Grant); daughter, Sarah (husband, Sean; son, Carter); and son, Brian (wife, Lynette; sons, Seaton and Greyson). He is also survived by numerous step children and step grandchildren.

“Practicing medicine is the greatest thing one can do and I feel so fortunate to have been a doctor,” our dad would often say. Beloved equally by his children and patients, all of his children would constantly be flagged down by a patient who simply wanted to thank us for what our dad had done for them. These are the greatest chance meetings any of us ever had, and it’s a reminder of how dedicated and devoted he was to his patients, and everyone in the medical community. He loved his life and he loved his work, and for that he, and we, are all very lucky.

Per his request, there will be no public service. For those who wish to honor him, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Hospice of North Idaho (www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org)

Please visit Rey’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com