Julie Ann McClellan Raban

Julie Ann McClellan Raban, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones Thursday, September 27, 2018 at her home in St. Johns. She was born on July 11, 1935 in Santa Monica, California to Scott Parker McClellan of Loa, Utah and Nelda Veon Madsen of Charleston, Utah. She was the firstborn child and was joined by two adopted brothers Michael Dana McClellan, and Patrick Lory McClellan. Mom graduated from Scottsdale High School and started college at Brigham Young University. It was here that she met her sweetheart, Teddy Lewis Raban, shortly after he returned from his mission in 1953. Mom had many suitors and dad had to work hard to capture her attention. With time and patience, he finally won her over but she only agreed to marry him with the promise that he would never make her live in St. Johns. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on September 16, 1955 and work brought them home to St. Johns. It didn’t take long to realize she’d never want to leave this beloved town. Mom was not afraid of hard work. She was employed outside the home, filled many callings in the church and made lifelong friendships in the process. While working at the middle school, she made students feel special, treating them like her own. The greatest work she performed, however, was within the walls of her own home, raising seven children. Mom was masterful at making a little go a long way. She canned, sewed, and made homemade bread every Saturday to make sure we always had enough. When times were tough, we never felt we were going without. But even more than that, she taught us patience, tolerance, humility, how to work and how to serve. She was the epitome of proper etiquette and was determined to bring a little class into our country family. Her greatest gift to our family, however, was her unwavering testimony of the gospel and of our Savior Jesus Christ. Mom is survived by her sons, Scott (Roberta) Raban, Tim (Sharon) Raban, Jeff (Deniese) Raban, Preston (Raelene) Raban, daughters, Jodi King, Wendy (Tony) Lindsey, Nicole (Ephraim) Te’o, brother, Patrick McClellan, 32 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 4 on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sweetheart Ted, 2 siblings, a granddaughter, Jamie Raban and son-in-law, Matt King. A special thanks to Hospice Compassus and her nurse, Destiny Kirk for her tender care in her last days. A Viewing will be held Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, St. Johns. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 5, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Johns Stake Center, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.