After a long, hard battle with multiple health issues, John Clyde Taylor relocated to heaven on Dec. 5, 2022. John was born in Centralia, Washington on May 17, 1945, to Clyde and Lilly (Hanson) Taylor. When he was 5 years old, the family moved to Raymond, Washington where after a brief stay, his mother and father bought the family farm in Baleville, Washington where he spent the rest of his childhood.
While growing up in Baleville, many neighborhood kids found their way to the Taylor’s large front yard to play and many good times were spent down along the Willapa River near the mills that his father operated. Part of John’s responsibility growing up was to milk the family cow he affectionately named Larkspur. During milking, he would place his forehead in Larkspur’s flank, sing to her and then after milking, ride her out of the barn. After graduating from Raymond High School in 1963, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he met his wife Mary. When John was honorably discharged from the Navy, they made their first home in Centralia on Cherry Street. John found work with Pacific NW Bell, where he spent the favorite time of his career working on the line crew with his long-time partner and friend Dick Lovo. John retired from the phone company when he was 55 years old and started a new chapter in life.
John and Mary lived in Rochester, Washington, where they raised their three children. After retiring, John loved to fish and spent many enjoyable hours on Mayfield Lake in his “12 foot aluminum yacht.” He became a skilled woodworker, making items that he enjoyed taking to the farmers market, and later, intricate intarsia pieces that are now proudly displayed in the homes of family and friends. John and Mary loved working in the yard, and John raised most of all the annuals that adorned their yard in the summer. John was eternally grateful for his friends and neighbors that were there throughout life, and those who were kind enough to help in so many ways as his health deteriorated.
Early in John’s life his mother chose to raise their children at the First Baptist Church in Raymond. After his mother relocated to heaven, John renewed his faith in God and developed a strong relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was active in the Calvary Chapel Tumwater and later in Calvary Chapel Centralia. He loved to help at the church by working there with his tractor, “Jenny,” and by providing snacks and goodies. He arrived early to make sure the coffee was prepared and food was set out, always making sure everything was cleaned up afterwards. John said that God had given him a servant’s heart, something that he very much enjoyed, although he was very quiet about his giving. When John made the decision to stop dialysis, he shared with his family that he was about to start the most incredible journey he would ever undertake. He was confident about his eternal journey and wished such strong faith and hope for everyone.
John is survived by his wife Mary Taylor, and his three children Ross, Susan and Steven. He is also survived by sister Sharon and Gary Teitzel, his twin sister Janice and Rich Aust, his half-brother Jim and Lisa Irish, cousin Joyce and Steve Svinth, cousin Darlene Hill, and many nieces and nephews. John’s ashes were spread at some of his favorite places including Mayfield Lake, the Pacific Ocean and the Willapa River, with his final resting place at the Grand Mound cemetery. While spreading ashes at the Willapa River, a mallard duck swept down close to the dock and then lifted up to head down the river toward the bay. As his sister fulfilled his final wishes of having ashes placed in the river, oddly, the beautifully ribbon package didn’t sink but floated toward the bay following the path of the mallard duck.
A scripture that describes our brother, John, is Psalms 73: 26, New Living Translation.
My health may fail and my spirit may grow weak,
But God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.
A small service with immediate family will be held.
