Evan Ellsworth Ray

Evan Ellsworth Ray, 53, of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away on November 30, 2025, after a brief and sudden battle with cancer. Born on November 7, 1972, in Mesa, Arizona, Evan lived a life defined by genuine kindness, and unfailing devotion to family and friends.

Evan was the oldest of five children born to Laurel Mary Goff and Stephen Leonard Ray. He treasured his place as an older brother to Shandon, Stephanie, James, and Mary, and later welcomed additional siblings into his heart as his family grew and blended over time. After his parents’ divorce when he was 12, Evan divided his time between his mother’s home and the home of his father and his father’s second wife, Denna Robson Larson. Through this marriage, Evan was blessed with additional brothers and sisters—Leisha, Ryan, Nathan, and Kirsten —whom he loved as part of his own immediate family. His family circle expanded again with the arrival of his youngest brother, Daniel Ray. Evan was preceded in death by his mother, Laurel, on August 10, 1994, and by his father, Stephen, on December 22, 2014.

Evan graduated from Gilbert High School in 1991. Soon after, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Chile Osorno Mission from 1991 to 1993, an experience that deepened his faith, his love for people, and his sense of gratitude. After returning home, he attended Arizona State University, graduating in 1997 with a degree in Finance.

In 1995, Evan married the love of his life, Rachel Ray (née Jenson). Rachel is the daughter of Wayne Jenson and Carolyn Jenson (née Green), and the oldest of 6 siblings, all of whom loved Evan and will miss him dearly. Rachel is a registered nurse and a graduate of Arizona State University. Together, Evan and Rachel created a home where love, kindness, and service to others were everyday realities. Evan’s greatest joy was his family, especially Rachel and their five sons—Brigs, Grant, Joe, Kimball, and Benson. He delighted in being their dad, cheering them on, passing on his handyman skills, and creating memories with them in every season of life.

Professionally, Evan enjoyed a successful career in banking, finance, and real estate. He owned and operated a mortgage company as well as a title and escrow company. Together, he and Rachel owned and managed several residential and commercial investment properties including Sims Salon Suites. Evan also worked as a loan officer and bank executive in several community banks, including First International Bank & Trust, Great Western Bank, and Western State Bank. He was known for his integrity, his strong work ethic, and his desire to help others reach their goals.

In recent years, Evan chose to devote more of his time and energy to serving youth in his community by coaching tennis at Desert Ridge and Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona. A lifelong tennis enthusiast, he saw coaching as an opportunity to give back, to mentor young people, and to spend meaningful time with his youngest son, Benson, a senior at Highland and one of the program’s top players. Over the last four years, Evan poured countless hours into the Highland tennis program, helping to build not only skilled players but confident, resilient young men.

Evan embraced life with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. His favorite hobbies included tennis, stand-up paddle (SUP) surfing, and sailing. About five years ago, he took up sailing and purchased a sailboat that he kept in San Diego. Time spent on the water—whether sailing or paddling—brought him joy, peace, and a sense of freedom.

Evan’s illness came swiftly and unexpectedly. He was diagnosed with cancer (a grade three ependymoma that had spread throughout his brain and spinal cord) only three weeks before his passing, after experiencing symptoms for just a very short time. Until then, Evan had been the picture of health and vitality. Even in this final trial, he faced each day with courage, faith, and concern for his family.

Evan loved people deeply. He was intentional about spending time with his family and friends and was gifted at forming and nurturing lasting connections. He was easygoing, fun to be with, and known for quietly making things happen for those he cared about. Evan also cherished his large extended family of cousins. He delighted in the fact that his family was so big and close-knit. His mother came from a family of 17 children, his father from a family of 11 children, and Denna from a family of 7 children, and Evan counted all of those relatives as truly his own.

Evan is survived by his beloved wife, Rachel Ray; their five sons, Brigs, Grant, Joe, Kimball, and Benson; his siblings Shandon Ray, Stephanie Felsinger, James Ray, and Mary Ray; his stepmother Denna Schnackenberg, additional brothers and sisters Leisha Paredes, Ryan Larson, Nathan Larson, and Kirsten Jones; his youngest brother, Daniel Ray; his father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Carolyn Jenson and many beloved brothers-and-sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends who loved him. He will be remembered for his kindness, his warmth, his sense of fun, his adventurous spirit, and his unwavering commitment to his family and community.

A viewing will be held on Friday evening, December 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Bunker Mortuary University Chapel, 3529 East University Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85213. A funeral memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the Gilbert Arizona Highland West Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1010 South Recker Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85296. A burial service will follow immediately at Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E Apache Trail, Mesa, AZ 85207. All are welcome to attend the viewing, funeral, and burial services. Please note that the only public viewing will be Friday evening. There will not be a viewing on Saturday morning before the funeral

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who are able to donate to the “Evan’s Light” GoFundMe project (https://gofund.me/e5069f80e). This project, which Evan cared about deeply, seeks to fund lights for the tennis courts at Highland High School, where he served as the boys’ tennis coach for the last three years, so that his love of the game and his influence for good can continue to bless the community he loved.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.