Raymond Arthur Tauriainen

Raymond Arthur Tauriainen, 79, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully at home in Nikiski, Alaska on September 22, 2025, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
 
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ray grew up in Detroit and Farmington alongside his parents Art and Fran Tauriainen, two brothers, and two sisters. His journey took him to the San Fernando Valley in California, where he met the love of his life, Susan. They married in Las Vegas and began building a life together that grew into a strong foundation grounded in faith that impacted his family, friends, community and church in deep and meaningful ways.
 
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966, Ray specialized in communications and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska. It was there he reconnected with family who had homesteaded in Nikiski-a place that would become his lifelong home. After his military service, Ray earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Fernando State College and became a certified accountant. He worked at Warner Bros. Music, where he crossed paths with legends like Mick Jagger and Neil Young.
 
In 1977, Ray moved his family to Nikiski, Alaska, where he worked for Phillips Petroleum and later ConocoPhillips as an operator and certified electrician/instrument technician. He also embraced the Alaskan lifestyle as a commercial fisherman, drift fishing in Cook Inlet from the late 1980s until 2013.
 
Ray and Sue adopted their daughter Carin Rose in 1989, completing a family that included Jackie and Jason. He was deeply involved in his community, serving on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission, Borough Assembly, Nikiski Senior Center Board, and as an elder at North Kenai Chapel.
 
Ray was preceded in death by his parents Art and Fran, brother Rob, sister Shirley Carey, and his beloved wife Sue. He is survived by his brother Richard Tauriainen, sister Sally Aiken, daughter Jackie Arnett (Kevin), son Jason Tauriainen (Kaci), daughter Carin Rose Kircher (KJ), a multitude of grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.
 
Ray lived in Nikiski for 48 years, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, quiet strength and faith in his Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
 
The memorial service will be on 10/11/25 at Nikiski Middle High School Auditorium at 2pm.  All are welcome to attend.  Reception to follow in the commons.  It will be a joint service with his dear cousin Mike Tauriainen who passed on the same day.