Raymond William Taylor

Hampton - Raymond William Taylor, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025. Born on March 14, 1948 in Pittsfield, MA, Ray was the middle son of the late Charles William and Ernestine Emma (Bence) Taylor. He was a graduate of Pittsfield High School and went on to earn degrees from the University of Massachusetts (B.A. in Mathematics (1969); M.Ed., 1971), Boston College Law School (J.D., 1974) and the Supreme Court’s Court Executive Development Program in Washington, D.C. (1996), becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Court Management. Ray began his professional career as a high school math teacher in Amherst, MA, before practicing law in Boston. He went on to serve the state of New Hampshire for more than 40 years, first at the Office of Legislative Services (1974-1976) and later as Deputy Clerk and Clerk of the Rockingham County Superior Court (1976-2015). Ray’s contributions to the legal profession went well beyond the courtroom. He served for 30 years on the New Hampshire Supreme Court Advisory Committee of Rules, as well as on the NH Bar Association’s Special Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure (1982-1988). He was a long-standing member of the Rockingham County Bar Association, serving on its Board of Directors (1976-2015) and as Secretary (1998-2015), and a dedicated member of the Charles C. Doe American Inns of Court where he served on the founding committee (1994) and as a member of the Executive Committee and Administrator of the Inn (1995-2015). In 2024, Ray celebrated 50 years of legal practice as a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association. Ray also enjoyed civic involvement. He coached youth soccer, basketball, and baseball for the Hampton Youth Association and served as a board member and president of his homeowner’s neighborhood association. In addition to his professional and civic life, Ray was an accomplished pianist and trumpeter and carried a love for music and the arts throughout life. In college, he chaired the Fine Arts Council, was editor of the Fine Arts “Collegian,” and performed with the University Band and Operetta Guild. Ray was an avid reader (especially history and art books) and enjoyed watching movies and visiting museums. He also loved Christmas (always decorating the tree himself), puzzles and visiting Bar Harbor and Williamsburg. Ray enjoyed the outdoors and in earlier years was a runner and tennis player. He and his wife, Janet, enjoyed hiking and annual vacations in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, ME. Particularly memorable was the 13 hour climb of Mount Katahdin, including the knife edge, in Baxter State Park, ME. This was a considerable feat for Ray (achieved 3 times) considering his lifelong spinal condition. Prior to retirement, Ray and Janet attended many rock concerts, including a few legendary reunion tours. After retirement, they enjoyed traveling and Ray was able to spend time on home projects. He was a gifted problem solver with an ability to fix or build anything with care and precision. He also followed the Boston sports teams, especially the Patriots. Above all, Ray was a devoted family man. He shared almost 50 years of marriage with his loving wife, Janet, and took great pride in the lives and accomplishments of his children, Jill and Ray Jr., and his cherished grandchildren. His greatest joy came from time spent with family-whether celebrating milestones or enjoying quiet, everyday moments. Ray is survived by his devoted wife, Janet Taylor; daughter Jill Story and her husband Brian of Haverhill, MA, and their children Jacqueline, Brian Jr., and Alexandra; son Raymond W. Taylor Jr. of Austin, TX , and his daughter, Mila; brothers Robert Taylor and Richard Taylor (Susan Towley); brother-in-law John Maciejewicz (Elizabeth); nephews Christopher Taylor and Daniel Taylor (Amanda); cousin Russell Dunn (Barbara Delaney); cousin Alvin Ericson; and longtime friend, Dr. William Neigher. Quiet and thoughtful by nature, Ray was known for his patience, humility, curiosity and deep sense of empathy. His legacy of kindness, integrity and quiet strength will live on in the many lives he touched through his work, his friendships, and in the family that he loved so deeply. Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Ray for a period of visitation on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the Remick and Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Rd., Hampton, NH., followed by a funeral service at noon. Burial will follow at the High Street Cemetery, Hampton. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray’s memory to Dana Farber Cancer Center, dana-farber.org. To view Ray's service remotely, please use this link: https://youtu.be/7MJRBbs9a1g?si=oQZT8pC9d5V9lgVw

Raymond William Taylor

March 14, 1948 - July 24, 2025