Raymond Earven

March 27, 1951 – Jan. 20, 2024

Services Feb. 3, 2024: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 185 E. Oak St., Globe, AZ

Viewing 10 a.m.

Funeral Mass 11 a.m.

Burial services: Globe Cemetery 

Reception: DJ’s Company, 2031 N. AZ Hwy. 188, Globe, AZ

Raymond Earven was born on March 27, 1951, and passed from this Earth on Jan. 20, 2024, at the age of 72.

Ray married Jimmie Holloway on July 27, 1974, and together they raised six children. 

Ray is survived by his wife Jimmie Earven, his children and their spouses: Steve & Tina Earven; Scott Montgomery; Aaron Earven & Sarah Hernandez; Donald & Angela Earven; Tom & Raylene Neri; and Skylar Earven; and let’s not forget about his beloved dog Sparky. 

Ray is also survived by his grandchildren Steven, William, Dustin, Damian, Brandon, Gage, Joey, Kamaron, Ashlyn, Nick, Gabriel and DJ, as well as five great-grandchildren plus one on the way; his brothers and their spouses Bert & Cheryl Earven and DJ & Jessica Galloway; and his sister and her spouse Michelle & Adrian Perez. 

Ray also left behind many loved nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents Bert & Lona Mae Earven, sister Viola, daughter Leslie, son J.D. Montgomery and grandchildren Josh & Dylan Earven.

Ray was a lifelong resident of Globe/Miami and was well-known in the community. He had many friends, and he never met a stranger. If you are fortunate enough to call yourself a friend of Ray’s, you probably remember him greeting you with a handshake and a “How are you doing today?” You probably also remember the many stories he loved to tell if you were willing to take the time to listen. Many of his friends and family members may have even thought a time or two while listening to him that he had a knack for exaggerating his stories a bit just to make them more interesting or exciting. However, what his family has learned since Ray’s passing is that he lived life to the fullest and accomplished far more than we ever fully realized. From the many medals, awards and certificates he earned while fighting in Vietnam, to the beautiful places he visited, and the amazing sunrises and sunsets he took time to appreciate and record so that he could share the beauty with all his Facebook friends. … We now know the stories he told were not tall tales and Ray was grateful for the life he lived. A good friend shared with us shortly after Ray’s passing that Ray told him that there was nothing he felt he needed to do that he hadn’t already done. Another one of Ray’s friends who knew him well said, “Ray was a true legend and true legends never die.” … That’s a life well lived! Although Ray could have been a thorn in your side at times, he was also the kind of friend who would do anything for you from giving you the last dime in his pocket to traveling hundreds of miles to get to you.

Ray worked hard all his life. In his younger years, he worked as an underground copper miner, truck driver, reserve deputy and EMT; but after many jobs and lots of hard work, he opened Action Towing in 1999 and built his company from the ground up, which he eventually passed on to his son Donald. 

Ray’s hands were hard-working hands. Even till the day he took his last breath, they were still very strong … they left a mark on this Earth and the people who were fortunate enough to know him. He touched many lives and many people, and his memory will live on forever. 

Ray’s heart was still very strong and if it were up to his heart, he would still be with us today.  

Ray Earven, Rest in Peace …

You will FOREVER live in OUR hearts.