Albert Ray Taylor

Ray Taylor passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of October 13, 2017 attended by two of his sons. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 14, 1930. He was the second of five children born to Willard Fox Taylor and Rhoda Mae Reed. He and his older brother Reed were very close and often thought of as twins. In fact, for two months each year they were the same age!

Ray worked hard to develop his skills and excelled in sports. Known by his nickname of “Peanut”, a reference to his small stature, he loved playing shortstop on the neighborhood baseball team, the Blair Street Bulldogs. He also enjoyed participating in basketball, football, softball, and golf. He had regular seats to watch the Cougars play football each year and loved to shoot hoops in his backyard. Even in retirement he was very active, playing golf with his brother Reed nearly every Tuesday morning.

Ray was a member of the 191^st Fighter Bomber Wing during the Korean War and in post-war recovery efforts in Japan. He was part of an atomic bomb test in the early 1950s where he and others were directed to a four-foot trench where they crouched down during the explosion. Amazingly, he never suffered any ill effects from that exposure. Ray was honorably discharged after faithfully serving almost two years.

Ray and Marilyn Tate were married on September 3, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple.  Their honeymoon was spent competing in the All Church Softball Tournament where he played and she watched. The team took second place.

Ray was a skilled craftsman, self-employed as a ceramic tile contractor. He shared his talents with his sons and others in the industry. He was often invited to assist on jobs in places far from home, including Chicago, Alaska, and California. He helped others by contributing of his expertise and time, particularly to the Catholic Diocese and for family and friends. When he wasn’t setting tile, Ray enjoyed working around his home, in his yard and in his large garden where he especially enjoyed irrigating with friends and neighbors. Ray served as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple for 13 years with his wife.  His life was one of quiet faith and dedication.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his 3 sons, Steve (Christine), Brian (Bobi), and Spencer; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; siblings Reed (Marjean), Annette Clark (Jim), and Marvin (Julie); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the South Salt Lake Stake Center, 2280 South 300 East, where a viewing will be held Thursday evening, 6:00-8:00 PM, and Friday morning 9:30-10:30 AM prior to the service. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.