Obituary of Bryan Gerald Raines

Bryan Gerald Raines, an accomplished public servant and long-time resident of Mesa, AZ unexpectedly passed away May 27, 2023. Bryan was the youngest of two children born in Marion, Ohio in 1960 to Glenn Leroy and Marilyn Kay Raines. He is survived by his mother Marilyn K. of Kansas City, MO, his brother Brent E. of Troy, OH, his two children, Carter E. of Red Lodge, MT, and Emily K. of Mesa, and two grandchildren Aiden A. of Red Lodge, MT, and Navy J. Jobusch of Mesa. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane Louise Morris and father Glenn L.

Raised in Ohio and Kansas, Bryan was a 1978 graduate of Gardner High School in Gardner, KS. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and Police Science from Northern Arizona University and his Master's Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Bryan’s professional career started in Flagstaff, AZ, and encompassed a variety of positions during his 25+ year career with the City of Mesa. Bryan began as an intern with the Mesa Police Department in 1984 and moved to the City Manager’s Office in 1989. While in the City Manager’s Office Bryan served in a number of different roles including Neighborhood Services Manager and Financial Services Manager. Bryan retired from the City of Mesa as Deputy City Manager in 2010. 

Bryan was a highly driven individual that enjoyed attending his children's extracurricular activities, spending summers boating with friends at Lake Powell, and he had a passion for building/fixing pretty much anything including the restoration of antique cars. Since retiring Bryan enjoyed vacationing with friends on cruises around the world and researching family history and genealogy. While always busy, he still found time to help friends and family no matter what the project entailed.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, June 13th at 2 PM at the Mesa Convention Center, Building B, Palo Verde Ballroom, 263 North Center Street. A reception will follow at the same location. Bryan will be interred alongside his wife in her hometown of Glencoe, IL at a later date. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Bryan’s memory to the Jane L. Morris Fellowship. This recently created fellowship is operated in conjunction with the Marvin Andrews Fellowship in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. The fellowship supports young professionals entering the field of local government management by providing a two-year tuition waiver and paid internship for students entering the Masters in Public Administration or Master in Public Policy degree programs at ASU. Checks should be made payable to “ASU Foundation”; please write “Marvins – Morris” in memo line and mail to Watts College, Attn: Sarah Thoftne, 411 N Central Ave, Suite 750, Phoenix, AZ 85004.