Ray Burke Skidmore

Ray  Burke Skidmore

March 16, 1938 — November 11, 2025 

Ray Burke Skidmore, 87, passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2025 surrounded by his devoted family. Born March 16, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Dr. Demoivre Ray Skidmore and Marion Bernadette Burke, he grew up in the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City. On June 29, 1967, he married Joan RuLynn Watkins, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage before her passing in 2017. Ray was also previously married to Leone Zerull.

 Ray was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and most recently served as a missionary alongside his sweetheart companion at the South Davis Community Hospital Branch. A graduate of West High School, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah where he studied pharmacy and then worked faithfully for Holy Cross Hospital for over 40 years. 

Before settling down, Ray enjoyed scaling roller coasters at Saltair and building and driving fast cars out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, holding a land speed record for at least one glorious day. Aside from his family, Ray’s greatest passion was the marsh. He grew up hunting waterfowl with his father at the Harrison Duck Club, and passed his fondness for ducks, geese, and wetlands on to many of his children and grandchildren. 

Though he loved to hunt, his greatest happiness was his family, which he supported and cared for his entire life. His gentle kindness was a daily reflection of the Savior’s teachings, and we are grateful to have been a part of his remarkable life. 

He is survived by his brother David (Nedra), his sister Marianne, his sister-in-law Stormy, his eight children, Debbie, Brian, Matthew (Brittany), Andrea (Darrell), Heather (Cameron), Melissa, Allison (John), and Aaron (Andrea), 25 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and his brothers, Thomas and William. 

The family will receive friends at the Bountiful Fifty-Fourth Ward, located at 540 North 1200 East, Bountiful on Thursday evening, December 4, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Interment at Bountiful City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com