He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and colleague to all that knew and loved him. He was born on Friday, May 18, 1956 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to William David Taylor and Margaret Jane Taylor.
Ray’s childhood was spent in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1974, and attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Ray entered the United States Navy in 1979 fulfilling his dream of becoming a member of SEAL Team Six in 1980, recognized as a Plank Owner (one of the original founding members). While a SEAL, Ray participated in the Achille Lauro Hijacking Operation, Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and Operation Just Cause in Panama.
Ray was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Fifth Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon (Bronze Star), Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 Bronze Stars), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Special Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Rifle Medal, Expert Pistol Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Naval Special Warfare “Trident” Insignia, and Navy Parachutist Insignia. During his tenure in the Navy, Ray achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree from The University of New York, as well a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Ray was also selected by SEAL Team Six to attend Flight Safety Academy International Flight School in Vero Beach, Florida where he graduated and received his aviation skills and pilot's license and flew his fellow SEAL Team Six members for training and operations.
Ray was stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia and resided there until he moved to Texas in 2009.
Ray retired from SEAL Teams in March of 1999 after 20 years of service in the United States Navy and had over 10 years experience as a U.S. Military pilot supporting Naval Special Warfare in both fixed wing and rotor wing operations. He continued his career as a corporate pilot for Sandler Management Group in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and then SPG Frank Group in Dallas, Texas. His career allowed Ray and Shana to travel the world, visiting locales such as Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Panama, Grenada, throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and many others.
Cooking was one of Ray’s passions in life! He loved to cook and always prepared the annual Thanksgiving turkey. Ray and Shana loved hosting family gatherings at their home in Southlake where Ray was always ready when you walked in the door with a new recipe, a wine he wanted you to taste, or a special drink.
Another passion of Ray’s was his beloved Minnesota Vikings. Ray never missed a game, while wearing one of his many purple t-shirts or team jerseys.
Ray spent his childhood summers at his cottage with his family growing up and vacationed as an adult with his wife, family, and friends on the Chain O'Lakes, Waupaca, Wisconsin. The lakes and oceans always gave Ray peace and felt like home to him. Throughout Ray's life he always had pets and was an animal lover. He and his wife Shana shared that passion for animals and their pets and children's pet were loved like their own children or grandkids.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, William David Taylor and Margaret Jane Taylor, and his son Christian Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Shana Taylor of Southlake, Texas, his son, Dylan Taylor and wife Marina, his stepdaughter, Marissa Eckard and wife, Hayley Seguin, his sister, Dawn Jansen and husband, Jeff Jansen, and their children, Jered Jansen and Erin Jansen Kimball and her husband Ethan, his sister, Janna Taylor, Shana’s siblings and their families, and other extended family and friends that he cherished. Holidays, family gatherings, projects and activities will never be the quite the same without his laughter, energy, generosity, and caring attitude towards all. He will always be remembered with love and missed greatly.
The Memorial Service will be held on June 5, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Chapel in Colleyville, Texas. Interment will be at a later date at DFW National Cemetery.
If you would like to send flowers in honor of Mr. Taylor, you may call Lilium Floral Design at (817) 589-1566.
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