Lincoln Francis Raynes
06/27/1923 – 04/25/2022
Lincoln Francis Raynes, 98, of St George, Utah, passed away
Monday April 25, 2022. He was born June 27, 1923 in Santa
Monica, California to Ronald and Mary Trimble Raynes. Hey grew
up in Reedsport, Oregon, and went to BYU in 1942 where he
met the marvelous Beth Milner. They married July 15th, 1943 in
the Manti Utah Temple and created a family of eight children,
delighting in their uniqueness. He was a WWII Veteran, who
served in the Air Force from 1943-1945. After earning a BS in
Education, he taught school in Mesquite, Nevada, Midway,
Utah and returned to Reedsport to become a grade school
principal. Always sharing the gospel, he was a branch president
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Reedsport
until he moved to Stanford University to finish an MS in
Educational administration. He was a professor at Southern
Oregon College (SOC, now SOU) for seven years before he
became an ESEA Title I Director in Grants Pass, Oregon. hey
retired to Provo, Utah in 1981, where he built a home by the
temple. Lincoln and Beth became more deeply involved with
their children’s families, and traveled nationwide with
grandchildren. They served two missions in Scotland and
Mississippi before Beth died in 2009. He found love again with
Barbara Palo Lee, a native of Montana, whom he married on
August 8, 2009. They lived in Orem for three years before
buying a home and moving to St George, Utah.
Lincoln was forever an outdoors boy, in awe of all of God’s
creation. He had a deep love of his Savior Jesus Christ and what
baptized at age 11 with his family. While spending his youth
fishing from creeks and lakes, he matured to become a ‘fisher
of men’ in many capacities (but still found time for trout).
Serving in multiple church calls throughout his life, Lincoln
had many administrative roles while always seeing and
teaching the ‘one.” His profession was fueled by his lifelong
love of learning and teaching, following the example of the
MasterTeacher. He was a pioneer in Early Childhood education
with his creation of Parent Packets in Grants Pass, Oregon. the
skills he developed in “alternative thinking” and “incidental
readiness” are passed down to his posterity. Lincoln was a
thoughtful listener and deep thinker without making you feel
like you were being left behind. He brought you along with him
as he spoke. He was a master storyteller with such specific
details that you easily understood the parallels he drew with his
testimony.
Lincoln designed and built his first fishing boat at age 16,
remodeled three houses, designed and built five houses– a
labor of love for Beth and the family they created. he loved to
make her happy. After retirement and years covered in wood
chips, he returned to his love of landscape painting, honored in
college. His love and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
was manifest through his paintings of nature. After the age of
67, he finished over 30 large works of art, enough for children
and grandchildren to hang in their homes. Lincoln loved travel
and discovery— his curiosity led him to avid searches on
Google. He and Barbara enjoyed catching up with family as they
traveled and shared their love of the gospel.
Lincoln (Grandpa) is preceded in death by his parents, Ronald
Curtis and Mary Elizabeth Trimble Raynes, his first wife Beth,
infant children Ronald Lee and Sandra Dawn, adult son Joseph
Lincoln Raynes and his wife, Alice Nielsen Raynes, son-in-law
Grant Garner, grandchildren Mary Allred and Elizabeth
McShinsky, and brother Curtis Raynes. He is survived by his
wife, Barbara Raynes of St George, daughters Marybeth Raynes
(Marvin Rytting), Rebecca (Charlie) Chenoweth, Rosemarie
Garner, Pearl (Brent) Hart, and Libby (Phil) McShinsky, step-
children Ted (Julie) Lee, Vickie Koernig, Gary (Dona) Lee, and
Lauretta (Ken) Farnsworth, Nephews Ron and Bob Raynes,
along with 65 grandchildren, 158 great-grandchildren, 3 great-
great-grandchildren, and numerous loved step-grand and great-
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be May 7, 2022 at 12:00 pm in the LDS
Chapel at 2445 Timpview Dr, Provo. Viewing will be there at
10:30 am prior. Interment will be in Payson City Cemetery.
Arrangements made with Hughes Mortuary, 1037 E 700S, St.
George, Utah.
Published by Deseret News from May 3 to May 6, 2022.
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