Ray Leroy Booton, 81, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away at the Cove House in Lincoln on December 7th, 2018. His oldest and youngest sons were keeping him company at the time. He passed quietly and peacefully. Born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Ray Booton was an Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War as an airplane mechanic, and received a purple heart for an injury by a sniper's bullet. His time in Thailand was life-changing, and he referred to it often. After retiring from the Air Force, he studied at the Nazarene Bible College, and entered the ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. He pastored a number of small churches in North Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Iowa. Retiring, he took two years of clinical pastoral education, and then he worked for the United States Post Office for a few years. Ray was survived by six children: Russell Leon Booton, Tamara Carolyn (Booton) Sedmak, Ryan Clyde Booton, Steven Ray Booton, Lisa Louise (Booton) Joy, Benjamin Henry Booton, and their respective spouses. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Ray greatly loved his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Alice (Eva) Booton, who preceded him in death four years ago. Ray was a strong, proud and independent man. He had tremendous mechanical skill, and could fix nearly anything. He loved country western music, and country gospel music. He was devoted to Jesus, and we take great comfort in that. The visitation is on December 11 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. The funeral service is on December 12 at 10:00 am at Connecting Pointe Church of the Nazarene, 1901 S. 70th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Condolences:lincolnfh.com