Ray Richard Thurston

Ray Richard Thurston 1/17/1947—10/16/2024

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce that Ray Thurston, a resident of Jackson, Wyoming and Paradise Valley, Arizona, unexpectedly passed away October 16th.

Ray Richard Thurston was born January 17, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. He was adopted shortly after his birth, a fact he took pride in when he often remarked that all adoptees were “the chosen ones.” He grew up in the Hollywood Hills and his playground was Lake Hollywood, directly underneath the Hollywood sign where he fished and trapped every four-legged animal he could catch. When he wasn’t exploring outdoors, he was delivering the Hollywood Reporter on his bicycle for his father’s messenger service in downtown Hollywood, a job he started when he was eleven. 

After graduating from San Marino High School, where he was voted “Biggest Flirt” (and for those who knew him, that title was no surprise), he went to the University of Utah where he got a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Behavior. His education was interrupted by his being drafted into the Army, but he returned to college with a new attitude and graduated. As he often said, he learned that “The A students teach the B students how to work for the C students.”

Ray then tackled the business world, founding SonicAir Courier, an integrated logistics service company, where he honed his business skills. His mantra was to create a place where his team could “Grow personally, professionally, and financially.” He succeeded so well that many former employees still remember that phrase. He also believed that “what gets measured, gets done” and nothing delighted him more than a good chart or graph. Ray focused successfully on logistics when no one else knew what the word meant and he built “Sonic” into a success, sold it to United Parcel Service (UPS) and then led the UPS Logistics Group. 

After he sold his company, he dove into the non-profit world and used the skills he learned in business to become a steward and support of the communities where he lived. Recently, he had focused much of his support on helping non-profit organizations be more efficient and effective.

Although he was an enormous success in business, his sons Wyatt and Matthew were far and away the most important people in his life. He and Amy, his wife of more than 40 years, loved to travel around the globe and expose their sons to remote, exotic places. 

Ray also had a passion for architecture and envisioned two widely acclaimed wine cellars. He loved gardening and landscaping and spent countless hours perfecting both in Jackson and Paradise Valley. 

Ray’s energy, passion, and inquisitive spirit were the basis of a life filled with humor, laughter and entertainment for friends and family. He enjoyed being the life of the party and developed a pitch-perfect Mick Jagger imitation. 

Ray was a rare and unique combination of brains, curiosity, willingness to explore, and lust for life. His passions and energy were contagious to a wide circle of friends. 

In addition to his wife, Amy, and sons Wyatt and Matthew, Ray is survived by two sisters, Debbie (Greg) Nelson and Cindy Henry. And he is deeply missed by his hundreds of friends.

Ray was buried at his cherished Jackson, Wyoming home in a private family ceremony. An event celebrating his unique life will be announced later.