Don Ray Bybee , beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away May 2, 2015 in Salt Lake City, from cancer . He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on July 4, 1934 to Dale Weston Bybee and Gazette (Midge) Bybee. He received all of his primary schooling in Idaho Falls and lettered while on the boxing team during his high school years. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Brigham Young University, receiving a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Retailing. On July 21, 1954 he married Roxie Lake, his high school sweetheart. After graduating from BYU, Don and Roxie moved to New York City where he earned his master's degree in Retailing. Don wanted to live in the west and so he accepted a job offer with U. S. Steel in San Francisco. He then moved to Salt Lake City and joined Snarr Outdoor Advertising, working in the company that Douglas T. Snarr and Don started just out of high school. After 2 years he moved to Boise, Idaho and was employed as Chief of Health Education in the Idaho Department of Health and worked in this capacity for several years. During this time in Boise he built a gumball vending machine business on the side which covered several cities in Southern Idaho. In 1976 they moved to Salem, Oregon where Don and a partner built aLong Term Health Care company. He later branched out on his own and continued in this business for 33 years until he retired. He had many interests that he and his wife shared together. He loved the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and was a frequent guest on Sunday mornings. He enjoyed attending BYU football games and had season tickets for many years. He and Roxie also enjoyed symphonies, operas, stage plays, university lectures and symposiums. He liked working with wood and was an excellent furniture refinisher. He enjoyed collecting things such as clocks and cowboy boots. He spent some years in England in his home ‚ the Bedford House ‚ and learned to appreciate the beauties of England. He was a hard worker all of his life and enjoyed working. Don and Dale Tingey created the Lehi Foundation in 1977, later known as American Indian Services, which provides a continual source of educational matching scholarship funds for Native Americans, assisting them to better their life and the lives of their future generations by helping them afford a higher education. He has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of his life. He is loved dearly by his family because of his great kindness, nurturing, unselfishness, gentleness and strength, and wise counsel. He is survived by his wife, Roxie, his children, Jana Lynn Barraclough (Brent Barraclough), Mark Bybee (Tracy Bybee), Denae Bybee and Darin Bybee, and his brother, Brent Bybee. He was blessed with ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant granddaughter, Janey Bybee.
Friends may call at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, on Thursday May 7, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
Services will be held Friday, May 8, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Capitol Hill First Ward, 413 West Capitol Street. A viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 AM prior to the service.
Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens ‚ 10600 South Sandy, Utah
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to either American Indian Services (1902 North Canyon Road Suite 100, Provo, UT 84604) or the LDS Church General Missionary Fund (Corporation of the President, 50 E. North Temple Room 1521, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.)
