Raymond Jefferson Byrd

Raymond Jefferson Byrd, 83, of Port St. John, FL, passed to eternal life with God on January 29, 2020. He was born on January 3, 1937 in San Diego, CA to the late Raymond Osceola and Irene (Jackson) Byrd.

Ray graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1953 where he was an active participant in the ROTC program and played as a defensive end on the football team. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from The University of Florida in 1959. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree.

As an Aeronautical Engineer, Ray worked for Boeing supporting NASA at the Kennedy Space Center as a member of the primary test team on the S-IC stage on the Apollo Saturn program. Another of his duties included monitoring the Apollo rockets during transportation from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the launch pad.

With the successful completion of Apollo, he went on to work on the shuttle program, designing the lift crane that allowed the shuttles to be mounted and dis-mounted from the 747-transportation airplane.

Still with Boeing, Ray moved to the Pittsburg, PA area where he was a Program Manager with the Bureau of Mines at the Mine Equipment Test Facility. His main mission was to lead the team conducting research and development of prototype coal mining machinery to ensure proper safety and effectiveness of the equipment.

Returning to Florida, Ray continued his career with Boeing, in advanced studies for NASA by drafting research papers on advanced rocket technologies.

After over 30 years, Ray completed his Aeronautical Engineering career at Astrotech in Titusville.

Ray’s diving and sailing were among his favorite hobbies. He not only owned a boat but also designed and built a catamaran, starting at the Whitley Marina and then moving to a backyard to complete the build. He also had a Rum Runner “Sugarfoot” which he had plans to restore.

Ray’s favorite spots to dive were the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico. One of his favorite dive trips was the year he took his sons, Ray and Al, to Cozumel. He had invited his wife, Maria, but she declined, telling him that it was a trip for he and his sons to take. When Ray came back, he gave Maria a big hug and kiss and thanked her, saying that was the best trip he had ever had in his life. One of the things that made it so great was the night of the lunar eclipse. He and the boys decided to go up on the roof of the hotel to see the nighttime event. Viewing from the roof, they decided to photograph the eclipse. When looking at the photos, they died laughing because all their pictures were black.

One of Ray’s lifelong dreams was achieved when he purchased his Ballanca Viking airplane. Ray always took great pleasure in flying. Among his plans for the plane was to fly to Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia to visit his children and grandchildren. One thing he was able to accomplish was scaring Maria half-to-death while flying. One day, he decided to take her out in the plane. He asked her where she wanted to fly and she responded that she didn’t care, she was simply happy to be flying with him. From Titusville, they flew south down the Indian River and turned back north up the ocean. After the turn north, Ray looked at Maria and said excitedly, I know what we’re gonna do! Maria asked, what? Ray said, we’re gonna do a fly-by of the VAB! Maria told him he couldn’t do that; it was restricted air space! While her eyes were growing big as plates, she asked if he was sure. Ray responded by asking if she wanted to. Maria said, of course! Ray said, okay, let’s do it! Maria asked if they would be shot down and Ray replied that he didn’t know. As they approached the VAB, Ray started talking over his headset. To Maria’s relief, Ray had already gotten permission to do the fly-by. They were both laughing when they buzzed and circled the VAB.

Ray had a lifelong passion for music, that truly began at the age of 9 when a Hawaiian Guitar salesman was giving away guitars for the price of lessons. In order to pay for the lessons, after working a full shift in a cigar factory his mother mended cloth diapers for 5¢ each. Each lesson cost 50¢. The salesman came back to teach a group of boys (Ray among them) but after only several lessons, the salesman stopped showing up. Ray continued to teach himself by playing songs he heard on the radio. He saved up enough money to buy a pedal steel guitar which he had fallen in love with due to all the wonderful sounds he could create. He never learned to read music, but he became more than adept at hearing a chord or a song and replicating it. As time passed, he developed his own tuning based on Mervin “Bud” Carter’s C6 tuning. After college, Ray took an internship at Lockheed in Manchester, Tennessee so that he could be close to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. When Ray would go to the Grand Ole Opry, he wouldn’t go to be a part of the audience, he would go through the stage door and pick up a piece of equipment and become a roadie for whatever band was playing that night. He did this so often that got to know the doorman, and this allowed him to become so acquainted with bands that he would sit in on jam sessions, one time for Patsy Cline’s band. Ray had numerous friends that he would play with or sit in for, such as sitting in with Little Jimmy Dickens. He became acquainted with Ray Price, and had such respect for him that years later, Ray drove to Texas for Ray Price’s 80th birthday celebration. Also during his time in Tennessee, Ray played a weekly live radio show. On several occasions, Ray took along his son, Albert, to the station. Albert remembers one evening while sitting on the DJ’s lap, he was allowed to introduce a few of his dad’s songs.

Ray began very early repairing his own steel guitar, then because the challenge was there. He built a couple of pedal steel guitars. He became so proficient and respected that people in the area began bringing their guitars to him for repair and tuning. Ray was working on the design of a beginner steel that would be economical in hopes the young people would be enticed to take up the instrument.

Ray began playing with Jimmy King in the mid 1960’s, where he earned the nickname “Byrdie.” With the Jimmy King Band, Ray began playing at the Straw Hat when it opened. They could play four sets a night for three nights and never play the same song twice. In a fortuitous stroke of luck, when the Apollo program ended, the band began playing at the club full time. As he played more with Jimmy, he applied his ideas for tuning to enhance the band’s sound. Some of the tours Ray went on with Jimmy King included “The Kentucky Co-Op Tour” where companies had tents set up and would try to get potential customers in by having the band play. Over the 30 days of the event, they played nearly every night. Another major tour consisted of travelling through Georgia, while another travelled through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Over the years, the band was fortunate to be the opening act for several national acts that performed in Brevard County.

During Ray’s time of employment in Pennsylvania, he joined the Stone River band. He and fellow bandmates remained close throughout his life.

Even as he continued to play with Jimmy King, Ray found time to play with other bands and enjoyed playing in the local theater production of “The Biggest Little Whorehouse in Texas.” And “Always – Patsy”. Ray played professionally his entire life and became a well-respected member of the musical community while also developing a fan base. Perhaps this was due in part by Ray’s clearly evident deep passion for music. With the Jimmy King band, Ray played at nearly every venue in Brevard County until Jimmy passed away and the remaining members disbanded.

It was clearly evident that Ray had a deep passion for music as many could hear that he played from his soul.

Ray’s favorite type of music was the Classic Country sound and in keeping with that, one of his favorite records of all time was Willie Nelson’s Big Band album “Stardust.” He also taught himself to play Big Band, Jazz, Rock, and Religious music.

In his last years, Ray combined his faith and his music by playing during Sunday services at the Malabar Baptist Church in Malabar, FL. Ray delivered his final performance just two months prior to his passing.

Music was one part of Ray’s heartbeat. The other was his love for his friends and family. The love for his friends is exemplified when he was given certification as an honorary Mustang by the Class of 1966. In the local area, going to high school in Merritt Island is a big deal, and being a Mustang is a big deal. When the class committee would work to host events, Ray was their go-to engineer. The committee would say “wouldn’t it be cool if we could…” and they would go to Ray and ask, “can we do this?” Ray would reply, “No, I don’t think you can, but I can!” and he would create things they would use in their events. Through his work, he became an integral part of the class of 1966 and fit in so well that he was often mistaken for a class-mate.

Ray loved life and had a wonderful and full sense of humor and found humor in everything. When people would say “that’s not fair” he would respond with “The Bible says Jesus loves you. It doesn’t say anything about it being fair.” He felt that God had a tremendous sense of humor because the more that he observed people and their choices, he just knew God had a great sense of humor. Ray’s laugh was infectious, and he could have those around him laughing within minutes. Many people have said they will miss hearing his laugh.

Ray truly believed that if we could do something to help our fellow man, that we should do it. We should do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do, not for the rewards one would get for those things. Ray’s compassion and integrity extended even in death. Ray chose to continue helping people by making a donation to the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research when he gave his eyes, pericardium, and skin to the non-profit organization. The Lions work with other non-profits to maximize donations. Donations may be used, not only in the United States, but Internationally as well.

Ray was preceded in death by his son, Raymond Andrew Byrd and brother-in-law Rick King. Ray is survived by his loving wife and soulmate, Maria. He leaves daughter-in-law, Charlotte (Dinky), son and daughter-in-law, Albert H. and Rachel, and son Darrin. He is further survived by sister-in-law, Bonnie King and sister and brother-in-law Gloria and Wade Ryals. His beloved grandchildren are Raymond Clayton (RC) and Michelle Byrd, Cassandra Byrd and Angela Perone, Beth and Jeff Cryer, and Charles Anthony (Tony) Byrd. Raymond also leaves great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Nicole, Raymond Patrick, Marcus, Calleigh, Jeremiah, and Oliver.

You will always be part of me, I will forever feel your strength.

You're gone now, but not forgotten

I can't say this to your face, But I know you hear me

When I think of your saying, ‘Life, Love, Health, and Happiness,’

It reminds me of your compassion and love for all that you knew.”

My soulmate, heartbeat, friend, and love of my life

Somehow My heart will go on. Love, Maria

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wounded Warriors or a donation of flowers to your church in Ray’s memory.