Ray (Reinier) Jack Demie

Ray (Reinier) Jack DeMie was born on July 21, 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to newly immigrated Dutch parents, Reinier and Lenie DeMie. They spoke Dutch in their home, and he learned English once he attended kindergarten. Their Dutch heritage was always very important to their family and they continue to carry-on that culture. As a family, they loved boating, traveling and attending sporting events. Ray enjoyed drawing and music from a young age, and was talented in both.

He graduated from South High and a few years later, he became smitten with his younger sister's best friend. He later married that girl, JoAnn Walkingshaw on July 30, 1977. Ray joined his father in creating their company, R & R Canvas, where they combined Ray’s artistic abilities with his dad’s sewing knowledge. Together they worked with their family for many years. Together they had three daughters, Amy, Stefanie, and Stacie, who he loved very much. He was sure to always tell people he never felt bad he didn’t have a son.

Ray and his young family spent countless weekends boating and camping, Lake Powell being their favorite place to spend their summer weekends. During the fall, they had season tickets to the University of Utah football games and loved tailgating and, in the winter, Jazz games. When JoAnn was diagnosed with breast cancer, Ray became her advocate and nurse. He did all he could to make her healthy, which broke his heart when she died.

During the years that followed, he cared for his girls the best he knew how while he tried to mend his heart. He found happiness when he became an Opa and loved each one of his grandkids. Ray still had many childhood friends, age never lessening their enjoyment of each other. He considered his brother Lynn his best friend, and they would annoy each other by calling one another multiple times a day. He found companionship for the last several years with his girlfriend, Tracie Wolf, whom he loved very much. Ray’s playful nature and trade-mark chuckle will be missed immensely by all that knew and loved him. His sweet puppy Luci was by his side everyday through his last days at home, and he loved her very much, as he did with all his furry friends over the years.

His daughters would like to thank Canyon Hospice caregivers for taking such good care of our father and ourselves during this challenging time and Riverway Assisted Living for making him and us feel like we were home, even for a short while he was there.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, his mother Lenie DeMie and father Reinier DeMie. He leaves behind daughters Amy (J.D.) Rex, Stefanie (Jonathon) Coplen, Stacie (Brandon) Kaisa, grandchildren Aerianna, Easton, Avery, Halle, Kyrah, Carson, Braxton, Malia, Marlee, and Emery. Plus siblings, Mary Jane Johnson, Lynn DeMie, Michael DeMie and Ellie Smith.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 S. 700 E., Draper, UT 84020. Viewing will be held before the funeral from 1:00 pm-2:45 pm, funeral services at 3:00 pm. A celebration of life will be held at approximately 5:00 pm the same night for all friends and family, at 10140 S. 700 E., Sandy, UT 84070.

The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)