Howard Ray Sanford

Howard Ray Sanford, 84, of Springville, Utah, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025. He was born in his childhood home on October 16, 1940, in Springville, Utah, to William Howard Sanford and Mary Ellen Whiting Sanford. He was the third oldest of eight children and one foster brother.

From a young age, Ray enjoyed working with his hands and creating. His life-long interests included, but were not limited to: cabinetry, furniture making, carpentry, sculpting, painting and others. Seeing possibilities and inventing solutions was one of his strongest traits and an outlet for his constantly creative mind.

Ray participated in Boy Scouts as a youth and enjoyed singing in his high school a capella and church choirs. In 1958 he graduated from Springville High School. He then went on to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Australian Mission.

Ray graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelors of science degree in art. He served three years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era where he entered Officer Candidate School and achieved the rank of captain.

Following his desire to create and build, Ray further pursued his education at Brigham Young University and received a masters degree in fine arts.

Later in life, Ray rekindled an acquaintance from his younger days from Australia and married Maureen Handsley.

Ray leaves behind his wife, Maureen, as well as his seven children. He is survived by his siblings Collene Dunford, Lorna Ivie, Mary Ellen Robinson and Marjorie Bird. He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Mary Sanford and by siblings Nannette St. Pierre, Larry Sanford, Richard Sanford and foster-brother, Harry James.

Ray has chosen to be buried at the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park near Camp Williams in Bluffdale, Utah.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.