Obituary for Orville Ray Mobley

Orville Ray Mobley, 73, of Guthrie Center, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, surrounded by his loving family.

Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Veterans Reception Center, 910 Main St., Van Meter, Iowa.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Donald and Ernest; his sister, Rita Nolan; his companion, Sharon Smith; and his beloved wife, Jenette, who also passed away on May 7^th - 19 years prior. We take comfort in the hope that this shared date marks their reunion in the joy and peace of the afterlife.

Family left to honor his memory are his children: Liz (Erik) Faust, Dean (Vicci) Mobley, and Nathan (Erica) Mobley; his sister, Virginia Harrison; his grandchildren: Ben, Sam (Rylan), and Lilly Thompson; Zach (Allyson) Mobley; and three great-granddaughters: Rose, Kloah, and Mabel Mobley. He is also remembered fondly by many nieces and nephews.

Born on March 7, 1952, in Guthrie Center, Iowa, to Donald “Pete” and Lillie “Aldine” (Gibson) Mobley, Ray was the youngest of five children—reportedly a little spoiled as the baby of the family. He attended school in the Panora-Linden School District. It was in high school that he met his wife Jenette Fay (Pierce of Adel). They married on September 19, 1969. Ray served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army as a 13B Cannoneer. His military service brought him and his family to Fort Polk, Louisiana, and later to Germany before they returned home to Guthrie Center. After his military service, Ray worked in various roles, including more than 20 years at Parker Industries in Jefferson, Iowa.

He loved the outdoors—fishing, hunting, and his Sunday drives to explore the countryside. He was known as one tough, hard-working SOB. Liz often joked, "My dad can beat up your dad!" There wasn't much he couldn't fix or work he couldn't do as long as one of his kids shined the flashlight correctly and handed him the appropriate tool. Ray wasn't always an easy man, but he was unapologetically Ray/Dad. His final months were marked by the challenges of liver failure, but also by cherished time spent with family. We were lucky to spend more time with him despite the circumstances. We shared conversations, watched loud movies, shared laughs (he had the best laugh), and made new memories. Sometimes when he wasn't looking, we shed some tears. He couldn't abide too much weakness even at the end when he said not to cry for him because life and death "is what it is". We usually did what he said, because he meant what he said. That day was an exception as we cried despite his mandate. We said the last of our words and our hearts were broken, but at the end of it all he was sober. There were many things about him of which to be proud. His final accomplishment of sobriety makes us very proud. 

One more thing Dad, we hope you made it home where you longed to be and it's everything you imagined and more. 

Memorial donations in Ray's honor can be directed to the family. 

Condolences may be left directly to the family by visiting www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.