Raymond Clifford Taylor Sr., 75 years old of Bright, IN, passed away on May 8, 2025. Ray grew up in Delhi and graduated from Oak Hills High School before joining the United States Navy. During his Navy career, Ray served in the Vietnam War where he was a gunners mate and earned a commendation as a weapons advisor and a rifle marksmanship ribbon. After returning from Vietnam, he married Mary Bitzer, his high school sweetheart, and in 1978 they moved to Bright, IN and raised three children. Ray was a self-proclaimed workaholic, working two to three jobs at a time. He worked at Superior Rubber during the day, Mollering Industries making cabinets at night, and then added a few side jobs to the mix. He enjoyed remodeling kitchens and bathrooms and worked as a subcontractor for a local construction company before starting his own company.
When he wasn’t working you could find Ray fishing at his favorite spot in Versailles. His kids will tell you he loved to make them clean the house, including the garage every couple months. Ray enjoyed watching cartoons including the old school favorites like Tom & Jerry and the Flintstones, but SpongeBob SquarePants was his absolute favorite. His cat, Simon, also seemed to love those cartoons because she never left his side. Ray’s pride and joy were his grandchildren and he loved to dote on them as much as he could.
Ray will be deeply missed by Mary, his wife of 52 years; children Jennifer (Jonathan) Littiken, Ray Taylor Jr., and Sherri (Charlie) Grigg; grandchildren Samuel Littiken, Kayla Taylor, Emily (Ashten Bollinger)Taylor, Destini (Thanner) Hunter, Lilly Grigg; great grandchildren Regan, Nolan, Nathan, Graysen, Brentley, Haidyen, Kamdyen; siblings Bob (Bonnie) Taylor, Steve (Debbie) Taylor, Dean (Pam) Taylor, Dennis (Cathy) Taylor, Roseanne Schaedler, sister-in-law Debbie Taylor, Linda (Frank) Krailler, Darlene Young, Anna (Jeff Shepard) Young, and Michelle (Marty Mahoney) Sexton. He is preceded in death by siblings Milford Taylor Jr., Jerry Taylor, brothers-in-law Ron Schaedler and Steve Young; and parents Rose & Milford Taylor.
Visitation for Ray will be held on Thursday, May 15 at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:30pm at St. John’s Campus of All Saints Parish. For those unable to attend, Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials can be made to St. Joseph Post 464 American Legion, Post 452 New Alsace Legion, Southeastern Honor Guard, and Disabled American Veterans. Family and friends are encouraged to leave condolences at www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com.