Raymond Howard Stevens, June 6, 1946 — March 3, 2007

Longtime Groveland resident Raymond Howard Stevens died Saturday at his home. He was 60.

Born Dell Ray Boyce, to Gilbert Alger Boyce and Ruby Lou Austin Boyce, in Salt Lake City, he lived in Groveland for 30 years. An artist and woodcarver, he was well known as "The Knotty Old Man."

Mr. Stevens enjoyed traveling and was especially involved in the service of others. He and former Groveland resident Bobbi Bennett came up with the idea that resulted in the establishment of Helping Hands in Groveland, and he served on the original board of directors for several years.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Stevens, of Groveland; sons, Raymond Howard Stevens Jr. and Jaime Ray Stevens; stepchildren, Christina Kemp of Seattle, and Kimo and Lu Lamont of Manteca; Hanai-children, Nancy and Joseph Reynolds of Palo Alto, and Jeffrey Zehnder of Groveland; grandchildren, Katie and Meghan Kemp of Seattle, Brianna, Kayla and Kianna Lamont of Manteca, Joseph Reynolds of Palo Alto, and Sarah Mann of Sonora; brothers, Dee Stevens and Bob Williams of Utah; and sisters, Bonnie Williams and Lynn Olsen of Utah.

Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mountain Lutheran Church, 13000 Down to Earth Court, off Ferretti Road, in Groveland.

Donations can be made in his name to Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice of the Sierra, P.O. Box 4805, Sonora, CA 95370, or to the Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1849, Big Oak Flat, CA 95305.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

We will celebrate the life of Raymond Howard Stevens, born Dell Ray Boyce, beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Services will be at the Mountain Lutheran Church, off Ferretti Rd. on Down to Earth Court in Groveland, California. If the spirit moves you, wear levis and something red. Ray would like that. The service will include Communion. ALL baptized Christians of any denomination are welcome at the communion rail. Ray would like that, too.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Sierra, P. O. Box 4805, Sonora, California, 95370 OR to Southern Tuolumne Co. Historical Society, P. O. Box 1849, Big Oak Flat, California 95305. STCHS contributions will be directed to museum displays.

Give thanks. Smile at your neighbor. Tell someone you love them. Hold hands with someone. Keep praying.

The strife is o'er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won.
The song of triumph has begun!
Alleluia!!

We lost Ray at 4:35 p.m. Pacific Standard Time today, March 3, 2007. His crossing was peaceful, supported by family and close friends, and in the presence of Jesus, the Christ.

Give thanks for his life which touched so many.
Keep praying!