Ray Lytle

Oct. 23, 1917 - Feb. 26, 2009

TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Ray Lytle slipped away from his family late Thursday night, Feb. 26, 2009, at the age of 91 after a valiant battle with death. His funeral was at White Mortuary "Chapel by the Park" on Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Steelman Borden of the Kimberly Christian Church.

Ray was a lifelong member of the Christian Church in McCook, Twin Falls, Idaho and Kimberly, Idaho.

First in his heart he was a husband, a father, a grandfather, then successful businessman of 60 years in Twin Falls. He believed a father should deliver not only a good financial life for his family but also a recreational one, so he provided camping trips to California and Arizona and to Nebraska to bond with grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Leaving the sign business for vacations was perhaps not in the the best interest of the business, but was in the family's best interest. Ray moved with his family to a farm to provide his son the chance to participate in 4-H and FFA. His daughter attending college was a goal he encouraged and when she graduated the pride he felt beamed from his face.

Ray Lytle was born in McCook Oct. 23, 1917, to Elsie and Earnest Lytle. He grew up in McCook with four brothers and one sister who preceded him in death. As a sergeant in the infantry sixth Division, Company D, he served in World War II in Hawaii, New Guinea and the Phillippines from 1941 to 1945.

He attended The Egani Institute in New York City to learn his craft of neon sign production and returned to McCook where he married Florence Opal Adamson in 1946. They came to Twin Falls in 1947 and opened Lytle Neon Signs.

In 1948, to expand his business, he attended the Dick Moran Commercial Art School in Kansas City, Mo., and Lytle Signs became a full service sign company. At 65 he retired to his farm near Kimberly and sold his business to his son Rex, who still continues the tradition of honesty, integrity, excellent service and quality products set by his father.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years and two children, Rex (Emmie) Lytle and Connie (Herman) Woebke, a retired English teacher and two grandchildren, Ryan Lytle, who continues the Lytle Sign tradition in Meridian and Stacy (Nate) Jensen of Moscow, Idaho, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The Lytle family would like to thank the personnel at Bridgeview Estates for the loving care they provided the last few weeks of Ray's life. The staffs' "gentle, angel man" much appreciating their kindness in his final days.

Memorials in Ray's name may be made to the Kimberly Christian Church, First Federal Charitable Foundation or to the Boys and Girls Club of Magic Valley. Please join the family in celebrating Ray's life by signing the online guestbook at www.MeM.com.