CAMBRIDGE, Iowa—Raymond “Ray” Smalley, 68 of rural Cambridge, passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest on Thursday, February 6, 2025, while on vacation in Phoenix, AZ.
Ray was born March 11, 1956, in Ames, the son of Walt and Betty (Hill) Smalley. He graduated from Boone High School in 1974.
Ray then started working for Allied Construction and remained there until he retired. After retirement, he started working for West Farm Ag in Boone, until he officially retired, for good, in 2024. Ray was a farmer at heart and farmed his entire life, even thou working his other jobs. He was known to be the first to help any relative, friend, or neighbor, that needed assistance.
Ray was an EMT with both the Cambridge and Kelley Volunteer Fire Departments. He loved riding motorcycles and went on numerous trips, including to Alaska, the UP of Michigan and was currently planning a trip to ride all of Route 66. Ray also enjoyed snowmobiling and in his younger years, waterskiing. He was a member of the Carpenters Local Union 106, Boone Moose Lodge #104, the Moose Riders and the Rubber Knife Gang MC. Ray never met a stranger and once you were friends, it was for good, he will be missed for his sense of humor and pranks.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Betty Smalley; brother, William Smalley, and his niece, Heather McAlpine.
Ray is survived by his sister, Candie McAlpine; cousin, David (Pat) Klingmen; cousin, Lavern Smalley and his sons Mike and Jeff; sister-in-law, Cindy Smalley; four nieces, Sarah Smalley, Mindy (Chris) Smalley, Christy (Dan) Boyd and Amanda Schroeder.
A Celebration of Ray’s life will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Boone Moose Lodge #104, 812 8th Street, Boone, IA 50036.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Ray’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
Ray Smalley, 68, Cambridge, Iowa
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