Ray Lowell Buerge

Ray Lowell Buerge

November 10, 1931 – January 22, 2025

Ray Lowell Buerge, our loving, kind, gentle and strong husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, went to be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior on January 22, 2025. We were blessed to have him with us for 93 years.

He was born in Santa Monica, California on November 10, 1931, to Lowell Royden and Ruth Ray Buerge, where he was raised until high school when the family moved to Forest Falls, CA. He attended and graduated from Redlands High School. He attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA) where he received a BA in Bible. He then attended California Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree and a Master of Religious Education (MRE) degree.

He met the love of his life, Mary Lee Price, when they worked at Forest Home Christian Camp in Forest Falls, CA. Ray and Mary married on August 29, 1953. Their marriage was an excellent example of love, respect, honor, joy, laughter and grace. “Good Morning, Mrs. Beautiful” was his daily greeting to Mary and honoring and serving her was his passion. They enjoyed 71 years of wedded bliss.

They were blessed with 4 children. Linda (Stephen) Desens, Steven (Julie), Robert (Delisa) and Sharon Buerge, as well as 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. A fierce man of prayer, Ray prayed for Mary, each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, by name, daily and often throughout the night.

Ray and Mary served in every church they attended over the years. He was the choir director in 2 different churches. They were youth group leaders and Sunday school teachers and administrators at their churches as well as on the weekly cleaning team for the church. Serving the Lord was consistently a very central part of their life and marriage.

In 1977, Ray and Mary moved from Agoura, California to Sierra Vista, Arizona to open a Pier One Imports franchise store. Pier One was a fixture in Sierra Vista and they continued to run the store together until 1999 when they retired.

Ray was an avid gardener and in his younger years liked to hunt and fish. He and Mary enjoyed spending time together traveling in their RV for many years after their retirement. Time spent together was their favorite activity.

Ray’s legacy will continue with his family. He was adored by everyone who knew him. The lessons he showed us will forever guide us through our lives. As a family we feel blessed beyond measure that God gave us this kind, gentle man as the patriarch of our family and a living example of the love of Jesus. His parting words to each of us were, “keep the Lord in the center of your life”.

We will be honoring Ray’s life on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 2:00pm at Shiloh Christian Center in Sierra Vista.

(obituary written by family)

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