Raymond Wallace

Raymond Wallace May 1, 1937 – May 10, 2026

Raymond Wallace passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026, in Boise, Idaho, surrounded by the family he loved fiercely and spent his whole life taking care of. He was 89 years old.

Raymond was born on May 1, 1937, in Wallace, Idaho, to Ralph Raymond Wallace and Ethel Mae Byrne Wallace. He grew up learning the value of hard work, fixing what was broken, helping people when they needed it, and figuring things out with whatever tools you had on hand. Those lessons stayed with him for the rest of his life.

His family’s roots in mining ran deep. Raymond’s parents owned the Cable Mine near Georgetown Lake, and from an early age he developed a fascination with rocks, minerals, geology, and the outdoors that would shape much of his life and career. His life would never have been the same without his beloved Aunt Ina, who brought him to Anaconda, Montana, where he spent his high school years and formed many of the friendships, values, and experiences that helped shape the man he would become.

On September 14, 1958, he married Effie Rae Mackey in Butte, Montana. Together they built a life full of adventure, movement, laughter, and love. They were true partners. Whether it was weekly date nights, road trips up and down the coasts, water skiing in the Gulf of Mexico with friends and their dog, Huckleberry Hound skiing on his thighs & forearm, or simply sitting together after a long day, they genuinely enjoyed being together.

Raymond proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from October 2, 1961, to March 15, 1965, earning the rank of Captain. The Marines became part of who he was. His family grew up hearing things like “Improvise, adapt and overcome,” “KISS,” “Engage brain before engaging mouth,” and “The job isn’t done until the paperwork is finished.” He had a saying for just about everything, usually delivered with a grin, a little sarcasm, and perfect timing.

However, Ray started working hard long before adulthood. While still in high school, he worked for the Forest Service as a junior firefighter. After that, he worked for the railroad out of Anaconda, MT and later attended college in Butte, MT, before transferring to University of Montana, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in geology. During those college years, he parked and serviced cars at the Hotel Florence, where Effie Rae would often come to spend time with him while he worked.

After his time in the military, while living in Libby, Ray worked for the Zonolite Company before beginning what would become a 30-year career with the United States Forest Service. Over those decades, he worked as a geologist and was eventually promoted to mining engineer.

But work was never the whole story with Ray.

He loved doing things. Building things. Fixing things. Teaching things.

If something broke, he could usually repair it… or at least “Uncle Al” it back together. “Uncle Al it” became family shorthand for creatively fixing almost anything, a skill passed down from his Uncle Al and carried proudly by Ray his entire life. He believed there was almost always a solution if you were willing to think hard enough and work long enough. As Ray liked to say, “I can fix anything but a broken heart.”

He loved flying his Cessna over Montana and Idaho and felt most at peace in the outdoors. He hunted, fished, camped, snowmobiled, four-wheeled, rode motorcycles, skied on snow and water, collected rocks, built model airplanes, worked with wood, and reloaded his own ammunition. He taught snow skiing, coached his daughters’ softball teams, and taught his girls how to pan for gold, combining his love of geology with time spent together outdoors.

He also loved teaching his children and grandchildren practical things such as how to throw a softball/baseball, change a tire, change oil, solve problems, and take pride in doing things right.

Some of the best memories were the simplest ones: Ray building an ice rink in the back yard for the kids during Montana winters. Lighting M-80s before and after the Fourth of July fireworks. A garage full of tools, cords, and enough dot matrix paper to survive several lifetimes. A whole shed dedicated to his rock collection. A footlocker stuffed with electrical cords “that might be useful someday.” His quiet concentration while building model airplanes. His teasing grin when he was flirting or giving someone a hard time.

He was stubborn. He procrastinated. He could absolutely hoard things. But he loved deeply, gave generously, and showed up whenever someone needed help. And with one perfectly timed smart-ass comment he could make an entire room laugh. Whether he was calling someone a “SAKIA” (“Smart Ass Know It All”), purposely mixing up “You’re a fart smeller, I mean a smart feller,” or introducing himself as James G. Gawackemsnort or Freddie Frasterass just to get a reaction, Ray never lost his sense of humor.

Raymond also believed in giving back. He volunteered at the military museum, served on the Joplin Cemetery Board, and helped others through AARP Tax Services for over twenty years. Service mattered to him, not because he wanted recognition, but because helping people was simply what you were supposed to do.

Above all else, Ray loved his family.

He is survived by his wife of over 68 years, Effie Rae (Mackey) Wallace; daughters Susan Renee Wallace, Lynn Marie Wallace, and Tanya Anne (Wallace) Higgins (Dennis); grandchildren Michael Hincks (Alex), Benjamin Wallace (Rheanna), Dawson Johnson, Rylan Pape, and Keaton Pape; and great-grandchild Lukas Alcott.

Ray’s final years were not easy as he battled Parkinson’s Disease and congestive heart failure. The man who had spent a lifetime building, fixing, teaching, and constantly moving found himself facing challenges that tested both his strength and independence.

There were difficult days. Walking became unsteady, breathing became harder, and confusion sometimes crept in. He wasn’t always thrilled about pills, showers, leg exercises, or being told what he needed to do. But even in those moments, Ray never lost the spark that made him who he was.

He remained deeply appreciative of the people who cared for him, and nothing brought out his grin faster than tossing a balloon back and forth or someone willing to sit beside him for a while. He also found tremendous comfort in his cat, Ayra. The bond they shared brought him peace, companionship, and quiet joy during some of his hardest days.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Boise VA Hospital, Breena at Partners in Home Health, First Choice Home Health, Keystone Hospice, Summer’s Funeral Home, and his personal caregivers Lori, Jess, and Jody for the compassion, care, and dignity they showed Ray throughout his final chapter. A special thank you goes to Amanda and Amber at First Choice Home Health, whose kindness and support meant so much to Ray and his family.

Raymond leaves behind a legacy of service, resilience, humor, hard work, and love. He taught his family not only how to repair engines, cast fishing lines, and the 7 p’s, but how to live with grit, curiosity, and pride in a job well done.

If he were here today, he might remind us all to “Get your head and ass wired together,” “Save your money or fix your wanter,” or simply “Give ‘em a good shift.”

And he did.

A very good shift indeed.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Gary Sinise Foundation at www.garysinisefoundation.org or to Tunnel To Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org.