Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT) - December 29, 2006. Deceased Name: Arthur R. (Ray) Stout 1916 ~ 2006, UT United States. Arthur R. (Ray) Stout passed away on December 19, 2006 in San Diego, California at age 90. He was born in Salt Lake City, UT to Arthur R. Stout, Sr. and Grace Amelia Stringfellow Stout on July 29, 1916. Ray wrote this obituary a few days prior to his death before going on vacation to his favorite place Coronado, California. "Ray was proud of his family's Utah heritage, being a fourth generation Utahn. He attended the Emerson School, Roosevelt Jr. High, East High School, the University of Utah and the New England Air School in Boston, Massachusetts. His military service consisted of nearly four years in the US Air Force during World War II. He was stationed in Dallas, Boston and the Azores. Ray had a love of automobiles and the automobile business. He was the youngest district manager in General Motors Corp (Pontiac Division) prior to World War II. After World War II, Ray entered the automobile business as the Intermountain Distributor for Jeep trucks and wagons, later adding Willis and Kaiser passenger cars. The distributorship had 25 dealers it supplied with vehicles, parts and dealership management direction. The distributorship was purchased and taken over by Kaiser Willy's Motor Co., the manufacturers. Later, Ray became the distributor for Simca, a French made car, until the factory and distributorships were purchased and taken over by the Chrysler Corp. Ray purchased an ownership interest in the Ken Garff Oldsmobile and Ken Garff Foreign Car Co. He served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the two corporations. In September of 1963, Ray was awarded the Volkswagen franchise. He founded Volkswagen Intermountain Inc. that went on to become one of the largest and most highly respected Volkswagen dealerships in the nation. He also acquired the Isuzu and Range Rover franchises. Ray served on councils with the automobile manufacturers. He was also a member of the National Auto Dealers Association and the Utah Auto Dealers Association, where he served as an officer. Ray viewed the automobile business not only as a business, but as a hobby that he totally enjoyed. He was respected by his competitors and many were long time friends. He enjoyed helping other automobile dealers. For him, it was fun and pleasant. Ray held memberships to Salt Lake Country Club, The Cottonwood Club, Sugarhouse Rotary, and Great Salt Lake Yacht Club. His hobbies included collecting cars, flying, in which he had a commercial pilot's license, and boating at Lake Powell and Coronado, California.

Ray married Mary Louise Stump on January 29, 1940. Surviving are his wife, Mary Louise; two daughters, Sandra Stout-Henson and Susan S. Watkins (Tom); four grandchildren, Christopher Henson, G.R. (George) Watkins, Mark T. Watkins and Laura S. Watkins.

He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Elizabeth Amelia Henson. Ray was a loving husband, parent and grandparent." We would like to thank Arbor Care and Gary Stoddard for helping Ray have a good and independent quality of life until his passing. Dad, we want you to know that you are an inspiration to your family. You had an appetite for life, a will to live, and a disciplined work ethic. You set a wonderful example for your family and friends by overcoming numerous physical adversities and illnesses. Yet, you still continued to enjoy life to the fullest. We love you and will miss you. At Ray's request, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either The Huntsman Cancer Center Foundation, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108; or to LDS Hospital Deseret Foundation Heart Research, 8th Avenue & C Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84143 (801) 408-1775; or to The Sharp Coronado Hospital, 250 Prospect Place, Coronado, California 92118. As Ray would always say after leaving a telephone message, "Over and out."