IVINS, UT – Richard William Taylor, 86, died peacefully in his Ivins, UT, home on July 15, 2017; he was attended by his wife, son, and granddaughter.
Richard was born on February 19, 1931, in Presque Isle, ME, to William Rainsford Taylor and Maude Elizabeth Beckwith Taylor. He was raised in Presque Isle, ME and Idaho Falls, ID, where he graduated from high school in 1948. He attended Idaho State University before joining the U.S. Navy in 1950.
He married Laurel Hart in Pensacola, FL, on October 11, 1952. They had four children. He received his Bachelors of Science from Utah State in 1957 as well as his Graduate Degree from Michigan State University in 1958. He worked as a quality control manager at Green Giant in Le Sueur, MN, for 12 years. He later married Marie McBride on September 14, 1985 in Rupert, ID. He loved music, playing the piano and the organ, photography, writing poetry, musical plays, and was an avid reader.
He is survived by his wife, Marie; his three sons, Bill (Connie) of Seattle, Washington; Charles of North Carolina; and Steven (Lori) of Bristol, Rhode Island; his daughter, Catherine Teves (Chip) of Rutland, Massachusetts; his four step-sons, David (Lori) of Bentonville, Arkansas; Alan (Wendy) of Logan, Utah; Gary (Shannon) of Kanab, Utah; Brian (Stacey) of Clinton, Utah; his brother, James Taylor (Ramona); and three half-brothers, Mike Taylor [deceased] (Judy); Greg Taylor (Debbie); and Jon Taylor (Mya). He was also blessed with four grand-children, and three great-grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren, and eight step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, step-mother, and a half-brother.
The family would like to thank the loving caretakers at Dixie Regional Memorial Hospital and the Southern Utah Veterans Home Ivins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WoundedWarriorProject.org.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, family, and four dogs.
A viewing was held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday July 25, at Serenity Funeral Home, 1316 South 400 East in St. George, UT, with funeral services following the same day at 10 a.m. Interment was held at Ivins City Cemetery. Friends and family were invited to share condolences online at www.SerenityStG.com. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home, 986-2085.
