Raymond Paul McCarren Jr.

Born on December 27, 1943, in Anaconda, Montana, to Ray and Angie McCarren, joining sister Pat, he spent his carefree youth hiking, fly fishing, skiing, golfing, and climbing the mountains of southwest Montana with his lifelong friends. Ray graduated from Anaconda Central High School in 1962 and went on to graduate from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology in 1967. Soon after, he packed up his green MG to continue his forty-plus year career in engineering, mostly with Bechtel, in Houston. Shortly after moving, he was set up on a blind date by his coworker, finding the love of his life, Maureen. He was welcomed with open arms into Maureen’s big Redd family. Their marriage was quickly tested by a honeymoon in the Bahamas with twin beds and a moped in the rain after their reservations were lost.

Together with Maureen, they soon welcomed a son, Kevin, followed by two daughters, Tracy and Kari. They raised their family in a tight-knit neighborhood where they developed many lifelong friends. His career took him all over the world, including a long-term assignment with his family in England, where they took every opportunity to explore Europe and make memories that lasted a lifetime.

But if there was one place he was happiest, it was at the family cabin, Camp Lolo, in southwest Montana, surrounded by his family. Every summer while raising their children, they road-tripped up to Montana to visit his parents and spend time at the cabin. His love of outdoors began at an early age with trips to the cabin with his father and maternal uncle. He hiked, fly fished, and explored the wilderness. He passed his love for these and all things outdoors to his children, and then to his grandchildren. When he was in Houston, besides spending time with his family and attending his beloved grandkids’, Olleke and Beckett’s, activities, his happy place was with his buddies on the golf course, racing golf carts while getting in 18 holes. In retirement, Ray and Maureen traveled extensively, including continued annual trips to Camp Lolo with their grandchildren and family.

Ray was known for his devotion to his family, strong faith, obsession with See’s dark chocolate vanilla buttercreams, quiet manner, playful and dry sense of humor, and selflessness; and he never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was a thrill-seeker, having climbed mountains and trying his hand at skydiving, bungee jumping, parasailing, ziplining, and throwing pinecones at a bear in a tree. He never complained or lost his kindness, selflessness, or sense of humor, despite the years-long progression of his condition.

Ray is preceded in death by his father, Raymond Paul McCarren, Sr., his mother, Angelu Rita McGinty McCarren, and his sister, Patricia McCarren Grymko.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Maureen, his son Kevin McCarren, daughter Tracy McCarren, daughter Kari McCarren Morgan, son-in-law Adam Morgan, grandchildren Olleke Morgan and Beckett Morgan, numerous nieces and nephews, and brothers- and sisters-in-law.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Grand Living at Riverstone, The Key Home Care, and Caring Heart Hospice for the compassionate care, kindness, and support they provided to Ray and his family.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00am.

Immediately following, all are invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Ray during a reception at the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to Lewy Body Dementia Association (https://lbda.org/).