Walter Raymond (“Ray” or “Boomer”) Danly

Walter Raymond (“Ray” or “Boomer”) Danly passed away on July 22, 2019 surrounded by family at Kootenai Health Center at the age of 82. He was born in Berwyn, Illinois on June 26, 1937 to Karin (Svenonius) and Walter Raymond Danly. Ray attended Lions Township High School and continued his education at Augustana College where he played football for the Vikings. He served in the Navy aboard the destroyer USS Gainard as a Quartermaster. While in the Navy Ray rose from pollywog status to a shellback upon crossing the equator aboard ship and obtained a cross blessed by the Pope while in Rome. He married JoAnn DeLuca August 18, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois where his sons Eric and Greg were born. He worked for the family business, Danly Machine Corporation, and was transferred to San Jose, California as their west coast salesman where JoAnn and Ray were blessed with their third son Christopher James (“C.J.”). Ray spent time traveling the entire west coast and Canada for the family business. In his travels he hunted chucker with Jack O’Connor near Lewiston, Idaho. When he wasn’t traveling for work Ray and his family spent weekends camping, ultimately visiting most of the national parks in the west. While returning from Glacier National Park the family visited a log cabin gift shop called the Bighorn for sale in Yaak, British Columbia. Ray decided to escape the stress of his job and move his family to just across the Canadian border where they operated the Bighorn. The law enforcement profession called and Ray worked in U.S. Immigration at the Eastport border station between Idaho and B.C. Ray was hired as a police officer in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and moved his family back to the States. The boys proved to be the usual “cop kids” as they reenacted some of the pranks Ray had described from his youth and masterminded a few of their own. Ray advanced to Assistant Chief before moving the family to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where he took a job with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. At the Sheriff’s Department Ray worked his way to Administrative Sergeant where he gave the now-legendary “Boomer” briefings, which, like Ray himself, were not known for their brevity. Ray retired from the Sheriff’s Department in 2001. He renewed his Lutheran faith (his mother Karin was a staunch Swedish Lutheran), taught Sunday school, conducted jail ministries and volunteered for the NOSDA (No One Shall Die Alone) organization. Ray met his “Sweetie” Dawn Risley at church. Ray is survived by his sons Eric, Greg and C.J., and their wives Karen, Lynn and Bonnie, and seven grandchildren: Rhett, Casey, Cole, Hailey, Mackenzie, Zach and Samantha. In lieu of donations, because Ray loved his family so, he would encourage you to hug your family, tell them you love them and take them on a memorable family outing, perhaps enlivened by a good story or two. Or three. A memorial service for Ray will take place at Peace Lutheran Church, 8134 N. Meyer Rd., Post Falls, at 2 p.m. on August 9, 2019, followed by interment with military honors at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Family and friends are invited to an informal gathering at the Toro Viejo Restaurant , 117 N. 2nd St., Coeur d’Alene at 5 p.m. Ray’s family is grateful for the care provided Ray by the Kootenai Health Center and the support of friends and neighbors at this difficult time. Rest in Peace Raymond. We cherish our memories of you.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.