Raymond Emmett Webber, Jr.

Raymond Emmett Webber JR, 84, of St. Johns, Arizona, passed away April 19, 2022 after a battle with congestive heart failure.

Raymond was born in a tent on March 4, 1938 to Raymond Emmett Webber Sr. and Hazel Elmina Bouslog Webber in Potholes, a former gold camp and settlement in Imperial County, California. At the age of 10, he began learning to be a heavy equipment operating engineer from his father, a career he continued for most of his adult life. 

On his first day of high school, in 1952, Raymond met his first love, Nyla Lee Durfee. Later, as a senior, he learned to fly and discovered his second love, aviation.  He joined the Arizona Air National Guard in 1956. After Basic Training in Texas, he returned to Arizona and married Nyla. As members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, they were sealed in the Mesa Temple a year later. Raymond was honorably discharged from the Guard in 1960.

Raymond began his second career, as a pilot, in 1989.  His first job was flying freight in Cessna 172’s and 182’s. From there he moved into Aero Commanders, flying Air Attack and Air Ambulance for Ponderosa Aviation.  Raymond reached the pinnacle of his aviation career piloting a DC-4 Air Tanker (slurry bomber) for fire suppression.

Raymond enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his grandchildren, and working on aircraft as an Inspection Authorization Aircraft Technician.

Raymond is survived by Nyla, his wife of 66 years, his four children Teri (Mike) Ludwig, Donna (Scott) Henslee, Raymond (Debbie) Webber III, and Julie (John) Faulk, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and his sister, Sharon (Richard) Cooley and Bonnie Kinkle.

Memorial services will be held Monday, May 2, 2022 at the St. Johns, AZ Stake Center, 2000 W. Cleveland at 3 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to Guide Dogs for the Blind.