Raymond W. Taylor, Sr.

Raymond W. Taylor, Sr., 88, of San Angelo passed away, Sunday, December 13, 2015 in San Angelo. The Graveside service will be 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. A celebration of his life will be at Coney Island, 212 N. Chadbourne immediately following the service. Raymond Taylor was born in San Angelo, Texas on August 13, 1927 to William Calvin and Vera Paris Taylor. Raymond started his early working life as a bell hop in 1940, he worked in the first Hilton Hotel in 1948. He managed the St. Angelus Hotel and was at one-time owner of Maynard Courts. He began working for the oilfield businesses in the late 40’s, drove race cars along with being a Game Warden for Tom Green, Concho, and Coke Counties. This exciting pastime and hobby took Raymond all over the country racing midgets and sprint cars in the late 40’s and early 50’s and became the owner of San Angelo Raceway for a number of years. In 1947 Raymond married and had two sons, Ronnie and Raymond Jr., recognizing the dangers he quit racing cars and began promoting the race car business in San Angelo. His Business interest expanded and he started selling used cars in the early 60’s and needed a wrecker for repossessing cars for his dealership. The solution was simple; he traded several used cars for a tow truck. The new car dealerships in tow noticed the condition of Raymond’s tow trucks, clean and well equipped, in no time his services were in great demand and so the asked him to tow their business, too. With oilfield and towing experience Raymond Sr. Started Home Motors Wrecker Service in 1964. Not long after Home Motors acquired the San Angelo City wrecker contract, a contract the company still holds today. Raymond Sr. expanded the company to include a salvage pool in the 60’s, but sold it when his son Raymond Jr. went to college and Ronnie into the Navy. When the boys came back, they came back as partners in the business. This new youthful talent provided Raymond with the opportunity to retire in 2005 providing extra time allowing him to acquire commercial rental property dabble in the cattle market and work on his garage sale hobby. It also gave Raymond Sr. time to work with different civic organizations. He has served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors of TTSA starting in the early 80’s; the San Angelo Boys Club for 8 years and Board of Directors for Sonrisas Therapeutic Riding Club. He also has served in the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association for 40 years and the San Angelo Emergency Corps for 26 years. During his career he was inducted into the Towing Industries Hall of Fame. He was the second recipient of the Silver Spur Award in 2007. Raymond was a long time member of Hoolihan, where he formed many lifelong friendships. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him. Raymond was preceded in death by his Grandparents and parents, Doris Jean, his son, Raymond Taylor, Jr., three brothers, Freddie, Eugene and Gerald Taylor, and one sister, Elsie Canterbury. He is survived by his family, wife, Suzy Taylor, of San Angelo; his son Ronnie Taylor and his wife Mary, of Granbury; his Step-daughter, Rene' Johnson, his daughter-in-law, Teri Taylor, of San Angelo; 5 Grandchildren; Russell Taylor, Trey Taylor, Bryan Taylor, Toby Taylor, Michelle Taylor; 2 Step Grandchildren, Kelsey and Landry Johnson, of San Angelo; 9 Great Grandchildren, Mason Taylor, Paige Taylor, Cole Taylor, Tyler Peterson, Rolan Taylor, Brandt Taylor, Eli Taylor, Izzy Taylor and Carter Turner. Along with his family, Raymond developed close relationships with a number of people at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association and he cherished each and every one of these friendships. The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude and appreciation for all of the loving care given to Raymond, especially, Carolyn Newton, Edna Johnson and Marilyn Floyd. The family would also like to thank Pamela Murphy of Hospice of San Angelo. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.