Raymond Lee Beaver (Martinez), 73, dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, and brother and friend died on September 1, 2020. He was born in Helena, Montana November 18, 1946 to Alice Bernice Warren and William Martinez and adopted by Clarence Beaver.

Ray graduated from Rocky Mountain College with a Bachelor of Science in History. It was Ray's love for History that lead him to his found passion for teaching. He taught in Lavina and Jordan, MT and was the high school basketball coach at both schools.

His first teaching position in Missoula was at St. Joseph's Catholic School as the high school history teacher and physical education teacher for k-12. Wanting to travel and continue his passion for teaching, Ray took a position with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) teaching our military connected children overseas in assignments in Germany, Italy, Korea, and Japan.

Ray was a devoted educator with DoDEA for over 35 years until his retirement on June 19, 2020 at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan. Ray loved to play sports and got a partial scholarship to play football at Rocky Mountain College. He was also an Assistant Football Coach at the University of Montana for a brief period.

He loved being outdoors, hunting, often going camping, golfing, swimming every morning and then biking to school.

He was a loving husband and is survived by his wife, Ivy Beaver, a father of Rochelle, Jeannie and Tara; grandfather to Ashley, Zach, Ethan, and Julia: and great grandfather of Blake, Hayden and Everly; siblings Nancy, Shirley, Terry, Larry, Phyllis, Glenda, Mary, John, Judy & Clara.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by siblings Sharon, Don, Joyce, Carol, and Diana Kaye, and son in-law Charlie. Ray will be missed dearly and remembered by his family and friends for being, openhearted with a great sense of humor and a straight shooter.

Published by Smith Funeral Chapel, Billings, MT on September 8, 2020