Obituary: Ray Taylor Wilcox

Ray Taylor Wilcox 1924 ~ 2006 Ray Taylor Wilcox, age 82, completed his mortal sojourn on the 15th of December, 2006. He passed away of complications following a stroke. Although we are saddened to lose him at Christmas time, Ray was a man of great faith in Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate. Ray was born to Raymond Earl Wilcox and Grace Taylor Wilcox in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 29, 1924. He was the eldest in his parents' family of four sons and one daughter. He married Valene Camenish in the Salt Lake Temple on September 9, 1949. Elder Harold B. Lee performed the ceremony. After attending school in Provo and graduating from West Chicago High, Ray received officer training at the University of Illinois. During World War II, he was stationed in India and Burma for 2 1/2 years from 1943-1945 where he helped to build the Stilwell (Ledo) Road. After the war, he served an LDS mission in Tahiti for 2 1/2 years from 1946 to 1949. Ray and Val graduated together from Brigham Young University in 1951. Ray then received his Master's degree from BYU in 1954. He taught at BY High in Provo; South Summit High in Kamas; and Virgin Valley High in Mesquite/Bunkerville, Nevada. After earning his doctorate in education from the University of California Berkeley in 1957, Ray joined the faculty at BYU where he was a professor in Secondary Education until his retirement in 1989. Over his 32-year career at BYU, he served as charter member and first president of the Association of Teacher Educators and president of the chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. He published in many professional journals. His articles on classroom management, elements of effective teaching, and indirect instruction continue to be used and cited in teacher preparation courses. In addition to his work on campus, Ray conducted evaluations of U.S. schools throughout the South Pacific and joined a team of educators helping with USAID programs in Africa. In 1965 he moved his family to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he helped establish a college of education at Haile Selassie I University. He was the director of the laboratory school there until 1967 when he and his family returned to Provo. As a faithful and dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many callings including stake mission president in the Provo North Stake and high counselor in the BYU 10th Stake. He enjoyed teaching Sunday School and Priesthood, singing in choirs, and hometeaching with his sons and grandsons. Ray and Val served as Public Affairs missionaries in the Georgia Macon Mission from 1991-1992. Ray's passion was family history. He was an effective genealogist conducting original research, verifying the accuracy of records, and identifying ordinance work in need of completion. He attended the temple regularly and was a devoted ordinance worker. Hobbies and interests through the years included photography, reading, maintaining his home and yard, stamp collecting, keeping up with family and friends, and playing the organ. He loved BYU football and basketball and enjoyed attending games with his sons and grandchildren. Ray's four sons were his greatest joy and they have felt his love and care at every age. He accepted each daughter-in-law as the daughters he never had and enjoyed a strong relationship with each of his grandchildren. Ray is survived by his dear wife, four sons, and their spouses: Wayne and Margo of Covina, California; Roger and Moana of Orem; Brad and Debi of Provo; and Chris and Cheryl of Provo. Ray is also survived by two brothers: Clyde B. Wilcox of Castleberry, Alabama, and Carl E. Wilcox of Berkeley, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harry, and his only sister, Lucy W. Doty. Funeral services will be held at the Grandview 9th Ward, 1555 N. 1350 W. in Provo on Friday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to services. Friends may also call at the Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home at 646 E. 800 N. in Orem from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 21. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Ray to the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University (Dean's Office, 301 MCKB, BYU, Provo, UT 84602 or contact Bonnie at 801-422-9157). Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerfamilymortuary.com