Sep. 12, 1915 - Aug. 26, 2014
Date of Service: Aug. 30, 2014
George Trafford Bray
BURLEY - George Trafford Bray, nearly 99, of Burley, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at the Highland Estates Assisted Living Center in Burley, with his son and daughter-in-law by his side.
Trafford was born Sept. 12, 1915, in Burley, Idaho, the first of seven children of George W. and Willimiena Bray and lived there his entire life. Throughout his life he had a great love for cars and how they worked. After graduation from high school, he operated a full service filling station with a repair garage on-site for a year before joining Haight Motor Company in 1934. He began in the parts department and quickly advanced to shop foreman. During this period he met and married Sarah Blanche Matthews on Sept. 12, 1939, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They had four children, Georgia Clare Bray, Robert M. Bray, Bonnie Bray, and Peggy Ellen Bray. He became a partner in the Ford dealership in 1959 with Ludwig Haight after the original owner, Charles Haight, died. In 1975, the dealership was sold to Jack Young of Young Ford, and Trafford continued as a car salesman until he retired in 1985. During this time, he was honored twice as Ford Salesman of the Year for the State of Idaho. Following the death of his wife, Blanche, in 1982, Trafford married Phyllis Irene Cutler Weber in 1983.
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Trafford served in various capacities including Sunday school president, executive secretary, home teacher, senior missionary in the California San Jose Mission (February-August1986), and temple ordinance worker in the Boise Idaho Temple (1987-1988).
Trafford was foremost a family man and was very involved in the lives of his children and parents. He enjoyed league bowling with Haight Motor Company and was a member of the Burley Kiwanis Club. After retirement, he enjoyed traveling in his motor home with his wife, Phyllis, during the winter months - mainly to warmer climates in Arizona, Nevada, and Southern Utah. He eventually purchased a second home in St George, Utah, where he lived during the winter months.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Irene Cutler Bray; his children, Georgia Fregoso of Gilbert, Ariz., Robert M. (Phyllis) Bray of Cary, N.C., Bonnie (Bill) Hepworth of Rupert, Idaho, and Peggy Ellen (Gary) Prahl of Mesa, Ariz.; Phyllis’ children, Sam (Sandy) Weber of Camus, Wash., Jean (David) Pendleton of St George, Utah, and Jeff (Kerry Jo) Weber of Dietrich, Idaho; his brother, Robert E. (Vivian) Bray of Twin Falls, Idaho; 33 grandchildren; 83 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah Blanche Matthews Bray; his father, George Washington Bray Jr.; his mother, Willimiena Meyer Bray; his sister, Alice Opal Bray Mathews; his brothers, Lewis Albert Bray and Sterling Meinderd Bray; his sister, Dorathy Marie Bray; and his brother, Clarence Bray.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Burley LDS West Stake Center, 2420 Park Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Ty Jones officiating. Interment will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
The family would like to thank Intermountain Homecare and the Highland Estates staff for the loving care they provided to our husband and father.
