MARDELL RAY POPE "COSMO" Ray Pope passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Orem, Utah. He was born April 30, 1937, to LaMont and Fern Pope in Lakota, Utah, located between Garden City, Utah and Fish Haven, Idaho. He was born and raised on the Western shores of beautiful Bear Lake, whose shoreline is bordered by three states: Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. When he was quite young, his parents owned and operated the Town Pump gas station and general store in Fish Haven and in Garden City, Utah. He helped where he could, and learned the value of hard work by helping work their family farm in Fish Haven. Throughout his youth he also worked as a hired hand on various ranches in the area. Ray was a "Bear Laker" through and through. Ray attended Fielding High School in Montpelier, Idaho. He participated in wrestling, gymnastics, tennis, played clarinet in the marching band and graduated in 1955, having skipped a school grade. He received his letterman's jacket for wrestling. He attended BYU in the 1955-1956 school year. There he met and later married Wanda Mae Higbee on June 28, 1956, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They were blessed in this union with seven children … three girls and four boys. Ray holds the distinction of being one of the very first BYU Cosmo mascots and helped establish the mascot tradition of BYU Athletics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmo_the_Cougar As part of the earliest energetic/anonymous Cosmo Cougars mascot team, he helped create the physically demanding exploits that Cosmo would become known for. Specifically, they were zooming around the Smith Fieldhouse on campus on super-long bungee cords, performed gymnastic flips, and various other surprising gags with fans and faculty alike. On a few occasions, Ray enlisted the help of his gymnastic brother Laurel to take his place in the Cosmo suit, to help protect who the real Cosmo was. On one occasion, Ray—dressed as Cosmo--was actually kidnapped by students of the University of Utah as part of a college prank. On Saturday, September 21, 2019, Ray Pope was recognized at a BYU Football game in Provo, where they played the University of Washington, for being the oldest living Cosmo. Ray spent his business career in sales and management in the textile industry for Coats and Clark (now called Coats) headquartered in the U.K.. In his modest way, Ray referred to himself as just a "peddler" while spending much of his business career as regional account sales manager. He and Wanda and their children moved along with each promotion, where he served in the Midwest Regions including Montana, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, Illinois, and finally back to Utah where he eventually retired while living in Orem. Ray was an avid golfer for much of his adult life and felt that a perfect day golfing was to be out playing with family members and then mysteriously the scorecard would just blow away with the wind. A real highlight came in 2012 when Ray hit his one and only hole-in-one at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Las Vegas. (Yes, he has witnesses). One of Ray's great passions was literature and specifically poetry, a love that was engrained in him at a young age by his mother, a school teacher in Montpelier, Idaho. He greatly appreciated receiving books of poetry as gifts and could recite many by heart. By popular demand, he entertained the family on Christmas Eve reading the Christmas Story from Luke chapter 2, as well as the famous poem "Jest 'Fore Christmas" by Eugene Field, which he ended with childlike delight, helping the little ones exclaim "Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!" He took a special interest in the works and storytelling style of Mark Twain, and on occasion would entertain audiences with "first-hand" accounts of life on the Mississippi River with recitations of Twain's history and stories. On some occasions, he would complete the experience by wearing the full classic Mark Twain ensemble; white suit, mustache and hat. He had many favorite quotes of Mark Twain. One of them was: "I don't like to commit myself about Heaven and Hell— you see, I have friends in both places." - MT Ray took every opportunity to enjoy living. Along with his experience being Cosmo, he was a BYU Football season ticket holder for many years, sitting in the northwest stands. Ray and Wanda participated in a bowling league and enjoyed playing various table games including Rook and Canasta. As a family, they enjoyed snow-skiing, water-skiing, and many other sports including basketball and tennis. They were regular attenders at the children's sporting activities, including (but not limited to) high diving, little league baseball, gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball, and soccer. An avid hunter, Ray looked forward to hunting and fishing with his father, brothers, and extended family. They knew the mountainous regions around the lake very well. Eventually, he drew out a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo tag and bagged his buffalo in the Henry Mountains of Utah alongside his hunting companions—his brothers Laurel and Stephen. Ray earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a young man. As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many capacities. He expressed his great joy of callings working with the youth, both in the Scouting program and in young men leadership. He served as bishop of the Roseville Michigan Ward and in the Anoka Minnesota Ward, as well as in the Stake Presidency of the Schaumburg Illinois Stake. He also served as a member of the high council and a seventy in various stakes and also served as a temple-worker. M. Ray Pope was preceded in death by his wife Wanda Mae Higbee Pope, his parents LaMont and Fern Pope, and his brothers Richard LaMont Pope and Laurel Jay Pope. He is survived by his brother Stephen (Caroline) Pope of Mesquite, NV, and by Ray and Wanda's seven children: Dana (Bruce) Bodily of Riverton, UT, Kelly (Stewart) Anstead of American Fork, UT, Eric (Stephanie) of Farmington, NM, Laurel of Hillsboro, OR, Richard (Janelle) of Orem, UT, Marcus (Turia) of Heber City, UT and Gavin of Las Vegas, NV. At his passing, Ray and Wanda had 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ray and Wanda's Lasting Legacy of Service Ray and Wanda Pope lived the principles of Christlike service together like a finely-tuned timepiece. Their belief was that if it meant that much for someone to ask for something, then it was important enough to give them what they needed. Even with several children of their own, it was not uncommon that they added an additional young person—friends of their children or a relative in need—who were then seamlessly folded into the family for a time. As one family friend put it, "Your father was a man of principle … while your mom was the softer touch who brought out the popsicles." The family would like to extend a special appreciation of gratitude to the wonderful Lakeridge 5th ward members and their selfless service towards their family. They also would like to thank the many healthcare professionals that provided loving and compassionate care to Ray and Wanda over the years. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 17, 2021, at 1:00pm at the Lakeridge 5th Ward LDS Church building located at 950 South 50 East in Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held that same day from 11:30am – 12:30pm prior to the service. Interment will be held at the Garden City Cemetery in Garden City, Utah the following day on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 1:00pm. (just prior to the bowl game kickoff). Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkersanderson.com where a LIVE BROADCAST will be available for those who can not attend services, starting at 1p.m.