New Mexico Shriners Serve Children 

Potentate Ray St. John, and First Lady Sharon

Ray and Sharon have been married for 31  years.  They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.  They are very active in the Masonic Family.  Sharon was Queen of Yucca Temple, Daughters of the Nile in 2006, and is currently serving as the Supreme Princess Zenobia of the Supreme Temple Daughters of the Nile. They both have work hard for the Shrine Hospitals and our Shrine Children. 

Theirs is a very involved Masonic Family.  Ray’s father-in-law, Jim Robinson, was Potentate of Ballut Abyad Temple in 1999, Their son, Ray Jr., is a member of Ballut Abyad and is in the Locomotive Patrol.  Ray Jr. recently received a degree in Computer Drafting and is at the present an Assistant Manager for a Walgreen's Drug operation.  Sharon's Mother, Fern, and their daughter-in-law, Amber, are both members of Yucca Temple, Daughters of the Nile.

Ray was Educated in Albuquerque and in 1966 was in the first graduating class of Del Norte High School. After graduating Ray was drafted into the Army.  He completed his basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, received his advanced training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then served in Viet Nam in 1968 and 1969.  Ray was Honorably Discharged in July of 1969 with the rank of Sergeant. He returned to school and received his degree in Criminology from the University of Albuquerque and says "Thank You G. I. Bill". Another Veteran serving on Ballut Abyad's Divan!

He worked in the construction field for a time but did not find this to be his challenge.  In August of 1969 he completed his training as an Officer in the Albuquerque Police Department and his career as a Policeman began. This career included the routine walking patrols, patrolling in a police vehicles, working all areas of the city and all shifts before transferring to Traffic Division. Here Ray rode motorcycles as a Traffic Officer for 14 years and only returned to a patrol car for the last three years of his career. He retired as a Sergeant from the Albuquerque Police Department in 1989.

In 1990 Ray began his second career with Los Alamos National Laboratories, and then transfer to Sandia National Laboratories as a Security Supervisor.  He retired from Sandia in January of 2009.

Ray met Sharon when she was only 20 year’s old working as a waitress at Howard Johnson’s. He would stop there at the end of his shift, sit at the counter finishing up his paper work.  It was love at first site for Sharon, but for Ray, being a little slow, it took him a little longer. After four years he finally wised up and asked Sharon to marry him.

Sharon is an Albuquerque native having graduated from Manzano High School in 1972.  She worked at several different jobs before  attending De Wolfe's Beauty College. When she graduated she went to work at the Three Fountains Beauty Salon.  After working there  for 18 years she was able to purchase the business and now has 3 employees to assist her.  These ladies allow her the opportunity to give some of her time to both the Shrine and Nile. She enjoys this extension of interest and she a natural leader in both organizations.  Too, she has excellent computer skills and an artistic touch that make her contributions invaluable.

When Sharon's Father, Jim Robinson was Potentate of Ballut Abyad Temple, and her Mother Fern the First Lady, Ray and Sharon were fantastic supporters and they looked at as “greatest job” they'd ever had. One thing for sure they are "Seasoned Leaders" and know what it takes to do the work of the Fraternity.

When asked about his purpose for the Shrine Ray said  “My statement of purpose would best stated as many other active Shriners might respond, ”To support our Hospitals for Children, so that we may continue to care for them.  I would like to leave Ballut Abyad Shrine Center stronger than I found it". These are not just words on paper, as you can see from the bio above my family and I are very active in Free Masonry and Shrinedome.” 

Ray says “Thanks" to The Masonic Family for their support through the last eight years.”

Ray was appointed to the Divan by Past Potentate Rod Serrano.