Raymond Lee Swartout, 85, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, at Life Care Hospital in McAllen, Texas, after a brief illness.

Ray was born March 11, 1920, to Henry and Orpha Stormont Swartout. He married Mae Snelling Huff Jan. 22, 1947, in New York State. She died in 1977. He later married Mary Barinsky Feb. 24, 1979, in Akron.

Ray was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II on his 21st birthday. He served in all five major European campaigns in the Fifth Armored Division. In March 1985, Ray retired as manager of MoorMan Manufacturing Company, Le Mars Division, after 26 years with the company. Prior to that he farmed in Rio, Ill., trucked and worked at John Deere Harvester and worked in the Alpha, Ill., Coal Mine.

Ray loved to golf and play cards.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; two daughters Rosalie (Ronald) Barman of Rock Island, Ill., and Frances (John) Truitt of Davenport; sons Philip (Marie) Huff of Kiel, Wis., and Richard (Judy) Swartout of Crossville, Tenn., and by daughters Barb (John) Brandau of Minneapolis, Minn., Sandy (Mark) Borchers of rural Akron, and sons Doug (Carolyn) Barinsky of Minneapolis, Minn., Greg (Cindy) Barinsky of Ottumwa, and Mark (Glenda) Barinsky of rural Hawarden. Twenty-five grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren called him Granddad.

Ray was preceded in death by his first wife, Mae Swartout; daughter Carolin Boettcher; brothers, Dale, Laverne, Lowell and Richard Swartout and sister, Betty Docken.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Family Funeral Services in Reynolds, Ill. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Family Funeral Services in Reynolds. Burial will be in Reynolds Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Outlook Christian Church for Ray's granddaughters ministry or the Reynolds American Legion.