OCTOBER 1, 1953- FEBRUARY 14, 2025
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Raymond David Tataryn at the age of 71. Dad peacefully took his final breaths on the morning of Valentine’s Day, after a long journey battling several health issues, including a cancer diagnosis in 2016.
Ray is predeceased by his mom and dad, Michael and Catherine, brother Stewart, sister-in-law Donna, beloved niece Lisa, cousin Tom and wife Inez, and best friend Allan.
Raymond was born on October 1, 1953, in Selkirk, MB. After graduating high school, he went to Red River College to study business administration, but quickly redirected to the trades, working as a lineman for MB Hydro, then moved to Vancouver working as a sheet metal mechanic for Pacific Western Airlines. Ray moved back to his hometown in 1982 and bought a house on Manitoba Avenue, going to work at the rolling mill in Selkirk, joining his cousin Tom and following in his dad Mike, and Uncle Walter’s footsteps.
Ray moved his growing family from Selkirk to the farm outside of Teulon in 1992, where he and Frances raised the kids. They had a small hobby farm, farming rabbits, then pigs and chickens. He was a hard worker, striving to provide for his family often working many extra shifts. While raising the kids with mom, he continued to work full time at the mill, until retiring after 30+ years.
After Ray retired, he dabbled in a few hobbies, like gardening, canning, and cooking, although some of his recipes were only eaten by the dog and cat. He loved taking the boat for an afternoon fish on the creek with a friend or his grandkids, and hunting with friends or his son and son in law, although he was almost always there for the snacks and the company. After a few years of starting projects, Ray went to work at the fish farm with the McDonald boys, where he started several great friendships. He treasured the time he spent at the fish farm, often saying he’d do whatever job just to go for coffee with everyone. He worked there until his health no longer allowed him to and he retired again in 2022.
Raymond was a social butterfly, always running into someone he knew, and always making the time to make a phone call to stay connected to relatives and old friends, or to tell his grandsons if there was a Jets or Blue Jays game on tonight. He was proud to carry on traditions, have special family dinners and share stories about his loved ones, living and passed. Ray loved to watch his grandchildren in cadets, or playing hockey and baseball, and always wanted to know what they were doing. He was always a listening ear to anyone who wanted to chat and could often be heard laughing in a crowd of people.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Darryl, Tyler (Heather), Megan (Dave), Elissa (Joe); grandchildren Tyrell, Dominic, Piper, Parker, Finlee, Jonas and Toren; sisters Marie (Brian) Day and Nancy (Bob) Baron, numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, special great nephews and great niece, and many close friends.
A memorial service will be held at Stonewall Legion on Thursday, February 27 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Inwood Sports Club, where the kids can always play.