Raymond Hugh “Ray” Boughen died in Moose Jaw in late December 2022 at the age of 85, after a full life – including careers in education and subsequently in politics. He is remembered here by his son Ryan.
“My dad was someone who was very interested in the work that he did, and in giving back,” Ryan Boughen told MooseJawToday.com. “But he was a really good dad, too.”
Like his father, Ryan has spent thirty years as an educator in Moose Jaw and currently works as the Director of Education for the Prairie South School Division. His sister Patti also went into education and is currently the vice-principal at Dr. Brass School in Yorkton.
Ray is lovingly remembered by his daughter Patti (Rob) Zerr and son Ryan (Rachel) Boughen, his wife Sandra, his brother Reg (Eddie) Boughen of Alberta, and by grandchildren Taylor (Riley) Zerr, Kaitlyn Zerr, Noah Zerr, Tanner Zerr, Kyle Boughen, Dylan Boughen, and Bryce Boughen.
Ray is predeceased by his brother Garth and sister-in-law Donna, his sister Fran Sherwin and brother-in-law Pat, his sister Grace, and by his wife Pat and young children Brent and Susan.
Ray graduated from Peacock Collegiate, then called Peacock Technical, along with his twin brother Reg, and went on to be a teacher at Peacock — and then, at a relatively young age, the principal.
“He spent a long time there (at Peacock),” Ryan remembers. “He was a principal for 18 years there … and, you know, he never came out and said it, but probably some of his fondest working memories were at that school, working with that staff, those students, and those families.
“That was a really special time in his life, I think.”
Ray did not move on from Peacock until all of his children had graduated, Ryan said. He had other aspirations, but he and his first wife Pat agreed that Peacock was where he belonged until Ryan was done Grade 12.
Having his dad as the principal was never a hardship, Ryan added. Ray didn’t treat his children differently at school than he did at home. They still called him “dad” rather than “Mr. Boughen.” And, while there may have been students who didn’t like their principal, Ray’s reputation for fairness meant there were no feuds.
“My dad was a big believer in kids,” Ryan said. “He never held a grudge… He never thought that just because someone made a mistake, that they couldn’t make it right the next time.”
After Peacock
“I graduated in ’88, and my dad took a (school division) directorship … the year after I left,” Ryan said.
After 30 years as an educator, Ray was ready for something else. He spent a year as a school division director before taking a position with what is now the Ministry of Education.
“Now, we call them deputy ministers, or assistant deputy ministers,” Ryan noted. “I can’t actually remember his title … but he oversaw Student Records. When you graduated, when you got your official transcript from the province, my dad’s signature was on it.”
Ryan’s mother Pat hoped her husband would retire after the Department of Education, Ryan said. Instead, in 1994, he ran for and became the Mayor of Moose Jaw.
“He ran for the mayor’s position, in town here. … I think, at that time, my mom was kind of hoping he would just retire.
“But I think my dad thought there were some things he could help bring to the city, and those were important things. … He was one of those guys who, instead of complaining about why things aren’t getting done, well, he would just jump in and help out.”
Ray never did really retire, working until the age of 77.
After two terms as the mayor of Moose Jaw, he worked briefly as the CEO of the Regina Airport Authority. He joked that he knew nothing about running an airport, but that didn’t stop him. He felt that leadership skills were applicable anywhere, and promised to do the job until the airport board could find a replacement.
It was while he was CEO at YQR that Pat died.
“Along the way…we lost our mum,” Ryan said. “That was hard on everyone. … Plans changed.”
Ray then remarried, spending his final years with Sandra.
Member of Parliament for Palliser
Ray Boughen’s last job was as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the former electoral district of Palliser.
He was elected in the 2008 federal election as a member of the Conservative Party, and served until 2015, when he chose not to seek re-election.
As an MP, Ray worked as hard as he ever had before.
“It’s full-time, right?” Ryan explained. “My dad would come home almost every weekend. At this time, he and Sandy were married.
“He would leave Sunday morning at 3 a.m. and get on an airplane at, you know, 5 or 6 in the morning to get to Ottawa, to get to work by 8 or 9 a.m. He spent the whole week there and then he would fly back late Friday night. He did that for seven years.”
On Jan. 10th, at Ray’s funeral, Ryan and his sister Patti jointly delivered the eulogy for their father. They decided, at that time, not to share what Ryan said was some regret about their dad’s work ethic.
Nevertheless, Ryan said they did feel they lost some time.
“I think, at times, both my sister and I would say that my dad’s commitment to his work and social services … I think sometimes we would have wished that maybe he didn’t do as much of that.
“And we could have spent more time with him. And he could have spent more time with our kids,” Ryan said. “That probably sounds a little selfish, but I mean, you only say that about people you truly want to spend time with.
“My dad was very clear on his work and his purpose. … He had a lot of accomplishments, but you know, (during his eulogy), we started from the place of first, he was a real good dad, and second, he was always a really good husband.”
Ray spent the last years of his life at Providence Place in Moose Jaw, where Ryan said his care was second to none. The family invites mourners who wish to contribute to Ray Boughen’s memory to make their donations to Providence Place.
