Ramon Suarez Taylor

Ramon Suarez Taylor passed peacefully in his sleep in Portland, OR on September 11, 2014.

Born in 1925 to Eleanor Taylor and Daniel Suarez Pazos, Ray was raised in Madrid,Spain. After Spain’s political climate shifted with the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, Ray, his mother, and his sister Mercedes had to flee the country for several years. Upon their return, he was conscripted into the Spanish Army, where he served until 1946 while he continued his education. He moved to the US in 1946 to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

While a student at MIT, Ray met the love of his life, Barbara Cornelia Schramm. A few years later he was again conscripted, this time into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They were married in 1951 and soon welcomed daughters Susan and Joyce. After Ray’s honorable discharge from the Army, Ray resumed his studies in civil engineering, graduating in 1954 from the University of Rhode Island.

After several years working on bridge design in Boston and New York, Ray accepted a job with Boeing in the emerging aerospace engineering field and the family relocated to Mercer Island, Washington. Ray’s career included work on numerous rocket and satellite projects as well as the Lunar Rover. After his retirement, he and Barbara enjoyed annual vacations to Maui and spending time with their family.

Many will remember Ray for his talent with woodcarving and bronze sculpting.

Ray was the perfect gentleman, kind, generous, and polite even until his final days. He was able to visit with every member of his family just a week and a half before his peaceful passing.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife Barbara of 57 years. He is survived by his daughters Susan Taylor Newell (Bruce) of Helena, Montana, and Joyce Taylor Wood (Tye), of Portland, Oregon, and by his granddaughters Katie (Stefan), Patty, Marianne, and Ellie.

A Memorial Service celebrating Ray’s life will be held 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 16th at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040, where he was a member for 50 years. The family suggests memorials to the Thai Girls Scholarship Fund (in care of the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church) which was a favorite of Ray and Barbara, or an organization of your choice.