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From Bill England: Obituary below Bill's comments
Jay was one of my first long term friends when I transferred to Mac. During the summer after I arrived, I somehow found out that he was an officer in the Mac chess club so I contacted him and we got together. We spent our first year at SMU and pledged the same frat. Delta Sigma Phi. One of his employers relocated him in their Denver office. I learned to snow ski when I visited circa Feb 1978. Eventually, he purchased his long term home in Plano and eventually was promoted to CFO of his Company (which Ive forgotten the name of}! He retired just a few years ago and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii. His niece, Rene, is making funeral arrangements. The last info I received is she's targeting August 4 at 10:00 am at The Chapel Hill Funeral home at 7735 Gibbs Sprawl Rd., San Antonio 210 599 2035 according to its website.
Carl "Jay" Taylor, Jr.
February 23, 1953 — July 29, 2025
San antonio
Carl “Jay” Taylor, Jr. (1953- 2025)
Jay Taylor joined his Savior Jesus Christ early in the morning of July 29, 2025 in Belton, Texas, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Jay was an intelligent, conservative, honest, organized, generous, and well-traveled gentleman who was accomplished in both his personal and business life.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, to Mr. Carl Jay Taylor, Sr. and Mrs. Mavis Graves Taylor, he attended Mac Arthur High School, graduating in 1971. He then enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he earned a B.A. degree in Accounting in 1975. He was an active member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He never married nor fathered any children but focused his time and passion on his family and friends and his accounting career at Elk/GAF, a building products manufacturer for over 30 years.
Jay was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and a nephew, Rick Ratliff. Jay is survived by his sister, Jean Ratliff (Don Wesch), brother, William H. Carder, III (Donna Marie), his nieces, Rene’ Clark (Stuart), Tammy Lynn James (Scott), Debra Jean Moczygemba (Brian), nephew, Russell Ratliff, many great-nieces and great-nephews, best friends, Raymond and Peggy Schiflett and many, many close and wonderful friends.
He retired to expand his travel agenda but was curtailed by his having to take on his fight against cancer. During his life, Jay visited over 30 countries and was always looking to go somewhere new and exciting. He was on the cutting edge of audio and visual technology and combined the most amazing movie and sound systems that were always years ahead of their time. Naturally, he also was an avid movie and TV series aficionado with “Game of Thrones” and “Yellowstone” being his all-time favorite shows. He was an excellent blackjack and slots player (he hit 3 royal flushes) and enjoyed great food and top quality Blantons’ bourbons, from whose founders he was descended. He was able to move to a scenic residence with a view of the Pacific Ocean and Kona Coast at Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii after retirement. He loved the humpback whales and the frequent eruptions of the ever-active Kilauea volcano. Jay was effective, practical, and caring - all of which was wrapped in a dry sense of humor. A world traveler, he saw much, did much, and lived an extraordinary life.
A funeral and burial will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park on 7735 Gibbs Sprawl Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78239 on Monday, August 4th beginning at 10 AM. A second, more casual, gathering to celebrate his life will be held in Dallas, Texas, at a date and time to be determined.
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Susan Jane Hester
I never really knew Jay, but I knew who he was. He always seemed very serious. May he rest in peace.
Laury Holden
I remember Jay. He had a nice smile and very nice.
Russell Hinote
Jay was a lifelong friend starting during our days at MacArthur. Even after our college years, our families would gather for some fun times as we all traveled back to San Antonio during holidays and vacations. Jay served as my best man for my wedding, and I’ll always remember the liquid encouragement he brought before the ceremony. In the years of late, we would have a rare get together during reunions and other occasions and do a lot of catching up. I regret not getting to travel to his adopted home in Hawaii to visit after his move there. I last got together with Jay this past fall when we met in Austin to eat some good Texas BBQ. I know I and so many others will miss him.
Fritz R. Holmstrom
I remember Jay and like Bill, we met through our fondness for Chess, he was really good (player) and an all around good guy. He had a serious side and a party side too. I recall the big Key Club convention, late winter or early spring '69 (I think), we were all staying at the Jack Tar Hotel in Galveston and he was cutting up with the best of them. When we first got down there everbody hit the beach for a swim even though it was about 60 degrees both in and out of the surf, we were all psyched up, having great time...when all of a sudden Richard Rupert (I think it was Richard), starting yowling in pain and hopping through waves on one leg back to shore. We caught up with him in the shallow surf and he lifts his leg into the air and there's a 6" catfish attached to his big toe & flopping madly....one of its spikes had pierced it clean through. Bizarre and funny are understatements. I was nice atching up with Jay, Rusty and Bill at the 2011 reunion, turned out that Jay and I had some of the same favorites...Mama's Fish House in Mauii for one. I pray that you rest in peace Jay.
Shirley Burleson (Espinosa)
I did not know Jay either. We were a large class. But it's good to read these comments from his high school buddies. Those were important years and experiences. And fun. Thanks for honoring Jay.
David Warren
Jay and I were roomies our first year at SMU (and Laigh was a couple of rooms down from us - a mini Mac floor). Unlike me in that first year, he did a pretty good job of sticking with the books (quickly and smartly changed his major from engineering to accounting) while putting up with me as a roommate (his patience was infinite!) - We didn't stay in touch after I dropped out but - Certainly a life well lived, may he rest in peace.
Keith Anderson
So sorry to hear about Jay. He loved his life in Hawaii. I’ll never forget the fun I had with him on one occasion in the Chess Club at Mac. I was a mediocre player at best and thought it would be fun to allow Jay to perform the impossible, “Fools Mate” chess move on me. As the black piece player, I lost the game in three moves. He must have believed that I had committed the massive blunder because he was shocked that he actually won the game that quickly. It’s incredibly rare! So I never told him that I allowed him to beat me that way, so that he could relish his victory. I wonder if he shared that memorable moment with others in the club? A really nice fellow all through life and most certainly, one of Mac’s better gentlemen.