Isaac Ray Gudmundsen

Isaac Ray – Ray - Gudmundsen was the first child of Isaac Gudmundsen and Fanny Mulliner, his father being the second son of Marie Jacobsen and Gudmund Gudmundsen. While Ray was born in Lehi, as were the next two children, the family migrated to Iona, Idaho where the remaining children were born. In time the family grew and spread out and the parents moved to Burley, building the Gudmundsen Department Store.

Iona was the homestead of Mary Ann Richardson Mulliner, Fanny’s mother. I am not sure why that area was selected, but is in great farming country and may have been part of the Samuel Mulliner industries. He had developed tanneries and mills in Utah County as well.

Ray would have grown up in these places and times of independent ventures. Individually he tried to make a go of farming himself but over the span of his life proved to be the sales and public relations type more than farmer.

Daughter Shirley Rei Gudmundsen reports in a piece written for her mother’s family history that following an LDS mission to the Auckland area of New Zealand, Ray returned to school with the idea that he would study law. He did find in school, an English teacher!  He and new bride Marian Adams Gudmundsen went to Washington, DC to further their educations at George Washington University. I do not have a record of Ray’s completing university, though Marian did get her M.A.

The Gudmundsens in Idaho were empire builders – not Gudmundsen Empire, but Idaho Empire. The Gudmundsen department store was associated with Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, at least philosophically: everything a pioneering home would need, produced if possible by the pioneer effort and industry. Isaac, Ray, and Irel were active in community affairs. Ray was elected Cassia County Auditor/Recorder, served on the local draft board during WWI and also represented Utah Woolen Mills in Idaho and later in California. He attempted to farm all along as well until a farming venture finally collapsed in the 1920 Idaho depression.

It might have been at this time that Ray became affiliated with Utah Wool growing, as his father-in-law had been successful with Ramboullet wool markets in southern Utah. At any rate, by the time of WWII military registration and draft programs Ray was living in Eureka, California, employed by Utah Woolen Mills. The California Death certificate states that he was so employed for 30 years.

Long term health issues had debilitated Ray's wife so that she needed home care and eventually institutional care before her death in Southern California in 1931. Ray lived until 30 Nov 1962, succumbing to cancer in his lungs and colon. They are interred in the Rosehill Memorial Park, Whittier, California. They were parents to three: Shirley Rei, Mark and Vance.