Charles Raymond Draper, 75, of Grand View, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 after a long illness. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Raymond was born on New Year's Day 1940 in Ogden, Utah to Golden Thomas and Ruth (Sharp) Draper. He was their second child and first son. He joined older sister, RaNae, and was followed by brother J Golden, and sister Brenda. The Draper family moved to Nyssa, Oregon in 1949 and farmed in the Owyhee area. Raymond graduated from Nyssa High School in 1958. He was an excellent student, and star tackle on the football team. He attended Brigham Young University for a time. Raymond and Celia Carol Bybee were married April 29, 1959 in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Bybee family was also from Nyssa, but had moved to Grand View, Idaho a few months prior to Raymond and Celia's marriage. Raymond's father-in-law, Dart Bybee, was developing farmland in a family operation in the Grand View area. He encouraged Raymond to join the group, which he did. In partnership with Celia's brother, Keith Bybee, Raymond farmed the 400-acre Shoo-Fly Farm, as well as 600 additional acres of new ground, brought into production starting with the vision of Dart Bybee, who filed desert entries and ran the heavy equipment to clear the sagebrush. Keith and Raymond did the rest to plow, cultivate, irrigate, and harvest. In a very real sense, they assisted in helping the desert to blossom as a rose. (Isaiah 35:1) The beautiful farms located between the Grand View LDS Church and Rimrock High School had their beginning in this way. In the mid 1960's, Raymond and Keith built Shoo-Fly Machine Shop and Greenhouses south of Grand View on Highway 78. By 1970, the partnership had divided with Keith taking over the farming, and Raymond focusing his energies on the machine shop and growing tomatoes in the greenhouses. During those first 10 years, Raymond and Celia's family was growing as quickly as their business. First came their only daughter, Carilee, followed by Robert, Mark, Matthew, Jesse, and Golden. Raymond taught his children by example to be hardworking problem solvers. In time, Raymond added concrete ditch lining and welding contracting to his business. By the late 1970's, he contracted exclusively with Simplot Livestock to build corrals, mangers, pipelines, and more. He ran a tight ship with a crew of many men who learned from Raymond Draper what hard work really means. In spite of a major heart attack at age 54, he continued working as hard as any man on the crew well into his 60s. Raymond was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He unselfishly devoted many hours on evenings and weekends serving his church. Included among numerous opportunities to serve were his callings as Stake Missionary, Scoutmaster, Bishop, High Councilor, and Financial Clerk. He did everything with determined enthusiasm. Dozens of young men over the years enjoyed exceptional outdoor experiences such as fishing on the Oregon Coast, hiking in Idaho's wilderness areas, and camping in several feet of snow, with Raymond leading by example how to survive and have fun. While serving as Bishop of the Grand View Ward, he led the effort to raise the funds and see to completion the construction of the Grand View LDS Church. Raymond's goal was to own a farm of his own that would support Celia and him during retirement. Accordingly, by the time Raymond retired they had accumulated 300 acres of prime farmland which has been farmed over the years by a number of excellent renters. With the help of his sons Robert and Matthew, Raymond was overseeing the installation and upkeep of irrigation systems and other improvements on his farm until the end. In his early years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. The more remote the location for those activities, the better. The family was never without a four-wheel drive vehicle that everyone could jump into for a long day driving to explore remote Owyhee County. Oftentimes, the picnic lunch for those days consisted of fish or sage hens acquired along the way. His other hobbies included woodworking and knife-making. His last project was to build a metal-working forge, which his sons were able to complete for him the day before he died. It was important for him to finish what he started. The forge will be a permanent reminder for generations to come of the strength of character of their grandfather. Nothing meant more to Raymond than his family. He was a strict, no-nonsense parent who had the most tender heart imaginable. He was very open in expressing his love. He worried himself sick whenever any of his children or grandchildren were traveling, and expected a call the minute upon arrival at a destination. Many family travelers have received calls on their cell phone within a mile of arriving at destination because Raymond could not wonder another minute. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Golden and Ruth Draper; Celia's parents, Dart and Thelma Bybee; three brothers-in-law and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is survived by his wife Celia and his six children and their families: Carilee and Garth Sleight of Miles City, Montana (four children, three grandchildren); Robert and Bonni Draper of Grand View (three children); Mark and Shawna Draper of Mountain Home (three children, two grandchildren); Matthew and Tammy Draper of Grand View (a blended family of eight children, three grandchildren); Jesse and Sastia Draper of Morgan, Utah (four children); and Golden and Holly Draper of Nampa (four children); his siblings and their families: RaNae and Howard Larson of Nampa; J Golden and Judith Draper of Middleton; Brenda and Clayton Pett of Nyssa and many cousins. The family wishes to thank Dr. Timothy Brininger and Horizon Home Health and Hospice for their assistance in caring for Raymond in his final days. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the Grand View LDS Church. A viewing will be held at the church from 12 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, in Grand View. Service: Saturday, February 21, 2015 2:00 p.m. Grand View LDS Ward 37873 Highway 78 Grandview, Idaho Visitation: 12:00 to 1:45 p.m. Prior to the services Grand View LDS Ward Chapel
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