Ray Royce Easterday

     Ray Royce Easterday passed away peacefully at home in Hagerman, Idaho on April 4, 2024.

     Ray was born to Alvin Beryl and Mary Tempa Lehman Easterday on October 12, 1930, in Eustis, Nebraska. He always wanted to go west to be a cowboy. Ray began his trip west just after graduation from high school in 1948 when he helped his brothers, Donald and Lenard move to Buhl, Idaho. He rode in the railroad car with the livestock, to water, feed and milk the cows as they traveled from Nebraska to Idaho. This adventure took five days, and he was covered in black soot when he stepped down from the train . . . he had made it out West!!

     He then headed to southern Oregon where his brother Marvin lived at Rome, Oregon on the Owyhee River, feeding sheep on the Calzacorta Ranch during the cold winter of 1948-49.  Spring of 1949, the calf branding crews introduced him to Walter Bowden, who he credits with teaching him the art of being a cowboy. Ray was left-handed so had to learn quickly how to rope right-handed, he rode the rough string of horses and more importantly learned laws of the land to manage livestock in the desert ranch environment.

     On a cowboy’s day off, they would head to Jordan Valley, the nearest town and watering hole!! This is where Ray met the love of his life - his “Desert Rose”, Lova Ulea Loveland. Ray and Lova were married in Winnemucca, Nevada on September 8, 1951. Ray’s mother-in-law, Evelyn Loveland, gave him the nickname "The Nebraska Kid". Later that year Ray was drafted by the army serving in Korea.

     After serving his country in the Army, Ray and Lova lived in Buhl, Idaho for four years where he farmed and drove milk truck. In 1957, Ray and his brother, LaVern, purchased the Vance Ranch near McDermitt, Nevada from Walter and Agnus Bowden. Surviving several years of drought, they expanded their cattle operation, purchasing an alfalfa ranch on the Owyhee River at Rome, Oregon. Ray, Lova, and family moved to Rome in 1963 and lived there fourteen years.

     In 1970, Ray and LaVern divided their partnership, but still ran their cattle together on the range near McDermitt, Nevada (Doolittle Cow Camp). Ray was always proud of the crown cattle brand that was transferred from Walter Bowden, this was the beginning of the Crown Cattle Co.

     In 1977, Ray with his son Steve and Mike Secrest purchased the Cady Auto Co. in Hagerman Idaho, from Marion Pugmire. They hauled cattle and sheep across a large part of the western United States. Daughter JoAnn and husband Dave managed the ranch at Rome until 1980, when the ranch in Rome was leased out and his Crown Cattle Co. was moved to Hagerman, Idaho. Ray and Lova have four children, JoAnn, Steve, Monte and Teresa. Dad still runs a small herd of cattle near Fairfield, Idaho with his daughter Teresa and husband Lou helping him out.

     Dad has always been a spokesman for the ranching and livestock industries. In 1999, Ray and Lova were honored by the Southern Idaho Livestock Industry and the Idaho Wool Growers for their years of service.

     Dad said, “I think that I have been very fortunate in my lifetime to garner the respect I have received from a lot of people in this great ole USA that we live in.  I have known lots and lots of livestock people in the western half of the United States and believe me they are a mighty fine group of people to work with and to be acquainted with.”

     He went on to say, “I’ve had a lot of fun in my life, I’ve had some heartaches also in my life.  Some very good times and a few very hard times, but I would not change one thing if I had to do it all over again. It would be exactly the same way as I have lived until now!”

     Dad has always enjoyed working with horses from his early years in Nebraska and riding rank horses in the Oregon desert to the more refined cow horses of today. To Dad, a well-trained horse was a joy.

     Dad enjoyed many road trips and adventures all over the United States, Alaska, and Mexico.  Dad has always been intrigued with modern technology and enjoyed his many Facebook friends!! One of his favorite pass times was playing pool and snooker with his many pool playing buddies, sharing victories, stories, and Sheep Dip and Huck . . . SALUTE

     Dad was especially honored to be inducted into the Buckaroo Hall of Fame in Winnemucca, Nevada for the year 2020, receiving the honor on September 4, 2021.

     Some of Dad’s last words “I’m at the end of the trail”

     Dad is preceded in death by: parents - Alvin and Mary Easterday; sister - Ruth Koch; brothers - Marvin, Ervin, Lenard, Donald, LaVern; and son-in-law - David Alexander.

     Dad is survived by: his brother - Danny (Diane); his wife - his “Desert Rose” - Lova; daughters - his girls - JoAnn Schoonover (Doug), Teresa Andersen (Lou); sons - Steve (Shelly), Monte (Mary); nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

     A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024 at the American Legion Hall, Hagerman, Idaho with a meal immediately following.

     A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Jordan Valley Cemetery, Jordan Valley, Oregon with a meal following at the Catholic Parish Hall.

     Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.        

     In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dad’s honor:

Hagerman American Legion Post #31 – C/O Frank Erwin, 711 East Ave. N, Hagerman, ID 83332

Jordan Valley Lions Club Building Fund – PO Box 344, Jordan Valley, OR  97910

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