Robert Rayl

Robert Rayl, 86, passed on February 21, 2014. Robert (Bob) Rayl was born on a farm in rural Missouri on October 23, 1927, where he attended a one-room schoolhouse until he was 8. After Bob's father died in 1936, he and his mother, three older brothers and one younger sister moved into the town of Sedalia, MO. After high school, Bob wanted to join his brothers in serving the military during World War II, but he missed most of the war. He decided to join the Merchant Marines in 1945. After his discharge in 1947, he immediately enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Geology. While at college, he met and married Margaret Hill in 1949, and they welcomed their first child, Patti, in 1950. Linda and Karen, twins, were born in 1953. By this time Bob had begun his career in petroleum geology with Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips). Through his 34 years at Phillips, Bob achieved a steady ascension in the company, and was transferred with his family to Billings, MT; Bartlesville, OK (Phillips' headquarters); Houston, TX and Denver, CO. He spent three years in London, England, as Chairman and Managing Director for Phillips in the United Kingdom. He returned to Denver in 1982 to run Phillips' Western Division. After retiring in 1986, he and Margaret settled in Denver and traveled extensively to locales all over the world. In 2006, they moved into Holly Creek Retirement Community. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Holly Creek Retirement Community Fellowship Hall, 5500 East Peakview Avenue, Centennial, CO 80121. Please share your memories of Bob and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.