Raymond Lonnie Parsons

Raymond Lonnie Parsons of Cornville, Arizona, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at age 86.

Ray was born in Modesto, California, to Raymond Alvie Parsons and Frances Nonie Berg on June 20, 1939. His mother was born 11th of 13 children, so Ray, his twin brother Ralph, and younger brother Eddie grew up among a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins all along the San Joaquin Valley. Thus, early on, he learned the importance of the hospitality and loving support of family. After receiving his undergraduate degree in mathematics at UC Berkeley, he chose to enter the Peace Corps, where he served two years as a science and math teacher in Nigeria.

During graduate school in San Jose, he met and shortly thereafter married his first wife, Louise Keith, in 1968. Together, they had two children, Tom and Amy Parsons. Ray began a 27-year career in computer programming at IBM, and his life path resulted in relocations to Boulder, Colorado, and then to Tucson, Arizona, where he met his second wife, Jasmine Jensen, and they were married in 1990. Together, Ray and Jasmine went on many adventures, which, after taking early retirement from IBM, usually meant moving to a beautiful natural parcel of land and either building or renovating a home using environmentally friendly materials and renewable energy technology. 

Beyond his love for family and friends, his two enduring passions were for making music and being outdoors in nature. He loved hiking and backpacking, snorkeling and scuba diving, and visiting our national parks. Equally, he loved playing guitar and piano, and singing with his ukulele. Music was never far from his lips, nor a jam session too far ahead in his calendar.

His spiritual path ultimately led him to Buddhism, and meditation was a regular part of his routine. 

His deep connection to nature also compelled him to engage in peaceful environmental and political protests as well as charitable giving, hoping to restore the beauty of the planet he grew up on.

Ray made lasting friendships wherever he and Jasmine moved—whether in Amado, Arizona; Hilo, Hawaii; Port Townsend, Washington; or ultimately Cornville, Arizona. His heart was never far from his family, showing up for everything, loving with everything he had, and always willing to travel to visit, especially to spend quality time with his brother Ralph. 

He rarely went without a smile on his face. Everyone who knew him freely shares memories of his unconditional love and kindness.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jasmine, of Cornville, Arizona; his children, Tom and his wife, Racquel, of Pinole, California; Amy of Tucson, Arizona; Josh and his wife, Tiffany, of Sierra Vista, Arizona; and Matt and his wife, Maren, of Cottonwood, Arizona; along with his cherished grandchildren: Aidan and Faith (children of Tom and Racquel), Rachel, Eli, and Kaitlyn (children of Josh and Tiffany), and Damian, Riley, and Emma (children of Matt and Maren). He is also survived by his beloved twin brother Ralph (Jeanette) of Beaverton, Oregon, and their daughters Julia and Carolyn.

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