Sybil Mae Scott Raymer's Obituary
Sybil Mae Scott Raymer, our ‘Mamaw’, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, Dec. 3nd 2013, a week after her 88th birthday. With Christmas music playing softly in her room and dreams of her last waking view of her aged framed marriage portrait as a young handsome couple, waiting a year and two months was long enough for her to be away from her sweetheart and husband of over 65 years, James ‘Buddy’ Raymer. Married on August 11, 1945, they were always ‘Buddy & Sybil’ or ‘Mamaw & Papaw’… we rejoice at the reunion they are having; both now free from ailments and limitations, together for eternity with their family and friends, and maybe their dog Bear too... we are eternally grateful for the legacy she is to our family, which has been well built on her persevering shoulders. She was born on November 24th, 1925 in Osage Hills, Oklahoma (a small Phillips 66 camp ten miles West of Bartlesville, OK) to Effie Woodworth and David (Parris) Scott. She was their second child and first daughter, with 4 sisters to follow. For most of her life she played the role of ‘the oldest’ child after her beloved older brother Leon died in Florence Italy during WWII. Sybil grew up in the Oklahoma countryside to a mother proud to have been born before Oklahoma became a state in “The Indian Nation” and to a ½ Cherokee father. They lived through the Great Depression moving from family farm to farm always surrounded by Aunts and Uncles and Cousins. She loved family. Growing up before T.V. and radio she spent many days and nights singing and dancing “Honky-Tonk” with her cousins always followed the next day by Assembly of God church services in beautiful outdoor “Brush Arbors”. Despite her humble home she excelled in talent and beauty as a cheerleader, queen of her freshmen class, 4-H graduate, and spent many years as a beautician which was her dream career.
Working at a grocery store in Borger, TX she met James Myron Raymer, a handsome Navy cadet. Despite Buddy not being allowed as a Cadet, they were married and kept it secret. She was baptized the day after they were married by her new husband into the Mormon Church. After Buddy was honorably discharged from the Navy on June 30 1947, they moved with their newborn daughter, Phyllis Ann (Taylor) Raymer to Kansas City, Missouri. They were sealed in the LDS Mesa Arizona Temple October 24th, 1949. They spent the next 50 years in Kansas City. During that time they had two sons, James Myron “Jim” Raymer Jr. and Danny Leon Raymer. For most of her married life, Sybil served the LDS church in and around Liberty and Independence Missouri in many callings including Relief Society President and alongside her husband who was called as Elders Quorum President, Young Men’s President, Bishop, Stake Presidency and finally Patriarch. She also spent many years of distinguished service alongside her husband supporting The Boy Scouts of America. In 1989 they moved to Payson, Utah, so they could be close to much of their posterity in their twilight years.
Sybil will be remembered as the perfect grandmother: she taught us how to fish, how to ride a horse, how to sew, how to do hair, how to act, how to skin a rabbit, how to cook… and if we begged long enough she would show us how to beat Buddy (Papaw) at the marble game Wahoo. To her grandchildren, Sybil was always the underdog’s best friend; so far none of us have ever done a single thing wrong. Sybil and Buddy have left a posterity of strong and close family members behind: Phyllis Ann married Sam Houston Taylor III and had 5 children: Todd Houston married to Laura Dayton; Stefani Ann married to Jeff Neeley; Scott Houston married to Nicole Coon, Heather Ann married to Burton Karns; Brittany Ann married to Joseph Adams. Jim (deceased) married Marie Louise Nordquist and had 6 children: Kara Marie married to James Allen; Rebecca Diane married to Daniel Jones; James Michael married to Karen Neilson; Anna Louise married to Jacob Fechter; Adam Lamar married to Cynthia Bussey; and Benjamin Allen. Danny Leon was married to Marilyn Ryan and have 10 children: Jeremy Leon married to Kennan Rasmussen; Jacob Aaron married to Amy Carlson; Rachel Anne married to Don Olsen; Sarah Elizabeth married to Joel Steveson; Elizabeth Anne married to Shawn Elton; Mary Elizabeth; Jessie Danielle; Julia Rose; William Samson ; and Jenny Caroline. From these 21 grandchildren have come 47 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grand child.
Funeral services and interment will be at Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park next to Camp Williams at 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, UTAH 84065 at 2:00pm on Friday, December 27th, 2013. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that funds be donated to the Boy Scouts of America.
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