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W. Raymond ‘Boomer’ Danly, 82

Walter Raymond “Ray” or “Boomer” Danly passed away on July 22, 2019, surrounded by family at Kootenai Health, at the age of 82. He was born in Berwyn, Ill., on June 26, 1937, to Karin (Svenonius) and Walter Raymond Danly. Ray attended Lyons 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 on Aug. 18, 1961, in Chicago, where his sons, Eric and Greg, were born. He worked for the family business, Danly Machine Corporation, and was transferred to San Jose, Calif., 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 that was 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 re-enacted 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, 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 is 2 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2019, at Peace Lutheran Church, 8134 N. Meyer Road, Post Falls, followed by interment with military honors at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way. Family and friends are invited to an informal gathering at 5 p.m., at the Toro Viejo Restaurant, 117 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene.

Ray’s family is grateful for the care provided to 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 final arrangements.