Raymond J. Kominsky

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Raymond J. Kominsky was called to heaven on Jan. 30, 2020.  He was born on Nov. 9, 1941 to Raymond and Frances Kominsky in Kemmerer, and lived in Frontier, a town he loved; he and partners eventually purchased Frontier. Ray attended and graduated from Kemmerer High School in 1960, and the University of Wyoming in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science Degree (accounting).  He passed the Certified Public Accounting exam Sept. 1, 1974.  Ray met the love of his life Sharleen in Laramie  in 1961, at Safeway — they were “just friends.”  They started dating in 1963, and married in 1964.  Ray and Sharleen lived in Kemmerer for a short period of time, after which he followed Sharleen to Laramie for her new job and to finish his degree.  They welcomed Michelle in Kemmerer in 1965, Nichole and Douglas in Laramie in 1967 and 1968, and Heather in Jackson in 1970.

Ray and Sharleen and the kids relocated to Jackson in June 1969, after Mike Hawkins and Leonard Page offered him his first job following graduation at Hawkins and Page, CPAs.  In 1974, following Ray passing his CPA exam, he was offered partnership and the firm became Hawkins & Kominsky, CPAs.  Ray served on the Wyoming State Board of CPAs (serving two three year terms) and the Teton Youth and Family Services board.  In 1975, Ray became a member of the Wyoming Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.  Connie DeVries began working with Ray and Mike in 1981, and became a partner in 1986, when the firm became Hawkins, Kominsky & DeVries and Associates, CPAs.  

Ray was the ultimate family man and was happiest when all or some of his children and grandchildren would join him in the things he loved.  In Ray’s early days in Jackson, he played city league softball and basketball.  Ray loved to hunt, ice fish, camp, fish, arrowhead hunt, garden and golf.  It wasn’t uncommon for Ray and Sharleen to steal away to the desert in the summer to enjoy each other and the great outdoors.  Ray loved the Wyoming Cowboys and could often be found sitting around with his transistor radio catching a game and cheering on the Pokes!  

Ray and Sharleen and all 15 children, spouses and grandchildren celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with the renewal of their vows and love for one another in Hawaii in 2014.

Ray is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sharleen; daughter Michelle, husband John Totah and granddaughter Bryn; daughter Nichole, husband Leif Anderson, grandson Parker and wife Madeleine Anderson and granddaughter Maren; son Douglas, wife Betsy Kominsky and grandsons Jackson and John; and daughter Heather, husband Greg Harris and granddaughters Morgan and Jane. Ray also leaves behind 3 sisters, a brother and lifelong friends whom he considered family.  Ray was preceded in death by his father Raymond Kominsky, mother Frances Kominsky and granddaughter Riley Kominsky.

The service for Ray was held Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jackson.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to the American Lung Association, First Responders of Teton County, and Teton Youth and Family Services