In Memory Of
Ernest Ray Killian
1934
2022
Ernest Ray Killian
August 1, 1934 — January 31, 2022
In Loving Memory of
Ernest Ray Killian
1934 – 2022
Ernest Ray Weary Killian, 87, of Denver, passed away January 31, 2022.
Ray was born August 1, 1934, in Milton, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel and Edna (Gray) Weary. As a young boy, Ray got very sick with Rheumatic Fever three times and required extra attention. Having a large family of nine children, this meant living with his Aunt Mary and Uncle Dutch who did not have any children. They raised him as their own and later in life adopted him to make it official. Ray attended Milton High School and Lewisburg College. In 1952, Ray married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Yvonne Derr.
In 1958, Ray began working for Honeywell in Beltsville, Maryland, transferring to Colorado in 1962. Ray was an electronics engineer (EE) by trade and worked 27 years at Honeywell in their research and development group. He was on the team that developed the first ultrasound equipment for the carotid arteries, known as the Ultra Imager. Ray went on to work at Biosound where he continued medical research on the Ultra Imager by refining it, where it eventually was sold to Mitsubishi and is still in use today. He last worked at Lear Sigler/Monitor Labs where they built emissions equipment that measured the particulates of stack emissions of power plants.
Ray enjoyed riding his motorcycles, owning several over the years. He bought his first of three motorhomes in 1984, later joining Good Sam's Club and 'camping' throughout Colorado and beyond. Ray loved mechanics, woodworking, and being a handyman around the house. He could often be found tinkering in his garage. Ray loved food and was always looking forward to a good meal, and Shirley of course was an excellent cook! Reading the Sunday comics or watching cartoons, you would often hear him laughing out loud to himself. Ray was a dog lover, an avid reader, and a proud father and grandfather (papa), never missing any of their school or sports activities. Above everything else in life, Ray loved spending time with his family and friends.
He was a Mason, a member of the Englewood Elks, and the American Legion.
Ray attended The Old Country Church in Lakewood.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Michelle (Tom) Hannigan; sisters, Edna Drum, Dana Harding, and Twila MacGruder; two grandchildren, Ryan (Brianne) Hannigan and Kyle Hannigan; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Y. Killian; his parents Edna M. and Daniel M. Weary and Mary R. and Clark L. Killian; siblings, Robert Weary, Daniel Weary, Iris Nelson, Edith Fisher, and Richard Weary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ray's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or visit their website at stjude.org/givehope.
To share a memory of Ray or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Celebration of Life:
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00am
The Old Country Church, 1490 South Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80232
Ernest Ray Killian
1934 – 2022
Ernest Ray Weary Killian, 87, of Denver, passed away January 31, 2022.
Ray was born August 1, 1934, in Milton, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel and Edna (Gray) Weary. As a young boy, Ray got very sick with Rheumatic Fever three times and required extra attention. Having a large family of nine children, this meant living with his Aunt Mary and Uncle Dutch who did not have any children. They raised him as their own and later in life adopted him to make it official. Ray attended Milton High School and Lewisburg College. In 1952, Ray married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Yvonne Derr.
In 1958, Ray began working for Honeywell in Beltsville, Maryland, transferring to Colorado in 1962. Ray was an electronics engineer (EE) by trade and worked 27 years at Honeywell in their research and development group. He was on the team that developed the first ultrasound equipment for the carotid arteries, known as the Ultra Imager. Ray went on to work at Biosound where he continued medical research on the Ultra Imager by refining it, where it eventually was sold to Mitsubishi and is still in use today. He last worked at Lear Sigler/Monitor Labs where they built emissions equipment that measured the particulates of stack emissions of power plants.
Ray enjoyed riding his motorcycles, owning several over the years. He bought his first of three motorhomes in 1984, later joining Good Sam's Club and 'camping' throughout Colorado and beyond. Ray loved mechanics, woodworking, and being a handyman around the house. He could often be found tinkering in his garage. Ray loved food and was always looking forward to a good meal, and Shirley of course was an excellent cook! Reading the Sunday comics or watching cartoons, you would often hear him laughing out loud to himself. Ray was a dog lover, an avid reader, and a proud father and grandfather (papa), never missing any of their school or sports activities. Above everything else in life, Ray loved spending time with his family and friends.
He was a Mason, a member of the Englewood Elks, and the American Legion.
Ray attended The Old Country Church in Lakewood.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Michelle (Tom) Hannigan; sisters, Edna Drum, Dana Harding, and Twila MacGruder; two grandchildren, Ryan (Brianne) Hannigan and Kyle Hannigan; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Y. Killian; his parents Edna M. and Daniel M. Weary and Mary R. and Clark L. Killian; siblings, Robert Weary, Daniel Weary, Iris Nelson, Edith Fisher, and Richard Weary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ray's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or visit their website at stjude.org/givehope.
To share a memory of Ray or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Celebration of Life:
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00am
The Old Country Church, 1490 South Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80232
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ernest Ray Killian, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
The Old Country Church
Guestbook
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