Ray A. Bellew

Ray Alvin Bellew was born to Paul A and Ellenray Bellew in Buena Vista, Colorado on September 1st, 1942.  Ray was 81 years old when he passed away on December 18th, 2023. He was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on December 16th, 1959.  Ray married Wanda Lee Lewis November 3rd, 1961.  These 58 years were the happiest of his life.  Ray is survived by 8 children: Raya (Daniel) Long of Austin, CO, Doug Bellew of Redmond, OR, Kari Bellew, Ryan (Sheila) Bellew of Beaver, OK, Curtis (Sarah) Bellew of Falcon, CO, Russel (Brandi) Bellew of Delta, CO, Scot (Naomi) Bellew of Wilsonville, OR, Paul Bellew of Taipei, Taiwan; 13 grandchildren: Alex Bellew, Cullen (Kenna) Long, Katie (Victor) Sundquist, Zach (Amanda) Bellew, Nathan (Keren) Bellew, MaKayla (Cade) Lugard, Nicholas (Theresa) Bellew, Breanna (Ashton) Jones, Maggie Bellew, Dustin Long, Molly Bellew, Braeden Sprout, Mariah Bellew; 10 great-grandchildren: Clara, Caleah, Sterling, Jay, Easton, Lane, Drake, Wesley, Cecilia, Maxwell; 6 siblings Richard, Teddy, Ellen, William, Deanna, Paula; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and numerous friends and family.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda (Lewis) Bellew.

He was Journeyman Carpenter who built schools, banks, homes, bridges, office buildings, dormitories, grocery stores, and churches.  Ray and Wanda retired to Delta where they were very active in the church. He was ordained as an elder in 2008 and spend much of his time in service of the congregation. He spent much time preaching, teaching, and learning with his fellow brethren.  He most enjoyed working with the brethren on the church building in Delta.  He loved working in his shop where he built small projects like boxes and frames.  He really enjoyed helping friends and family with projects from hanging doors to adding on to houses and building sheds.  His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were great joys in his life.  He was a fantastic baseball and softball coach who inspired loyalty and pulled the best from the players.  He loved to laugh and to tell funny and entertaining stories.  He enjoyed taking his family camping and had many messages for his kids.  Here are a few: He told us a million times to stop exaggerating.  He advised us to wrap ourselves in saranwrap if we ever encountered a bear because a bear won’t eat what a bear can’t smell.  He never worked out, but he did use bodybuilding shampoo.  

He was a wonderful example in faith and as a father and husband, teaching by example and with words of wisdom. His advice was understated, insightful, carefully delivered, and eternally useful.