Thanks to Chuck Winter, who has called to our attention the recent homegoing of Lyle Taylor, who was very active in the national Brethren Boy’s ministry. This obituary is from the Yakima (WA) Herald this past Thursday.
Lyle Emmett Taylor
WAPATO – Lyle Emmett Taylor, 83, was born on November 1, 1925, at home in Three Sands, Oklahoma, to Winfred Carl Taylor and Alta Aline (Maddux) Taylor. Dad’s Heavenly Father took him home Monday, March 23, 2009.
Dad and his family moved to the Harrah area in 1941 and Dad was very proud of the fact that he still lived on the “home place.” Except for the time that he was in the United States Army and a short time in Santa Cruz, California, Dad has lived on his corner of the world at Harrah and Progressive Roads.
Dad proudly served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed in Boca Raton, Florida. When he returned home, he worked at the Harrah Grade School as a custodian and bus driver where he began his long service to the youth in the area.
Dad then started his own business building custom homes and remodeling. Many of the homes in the Lower Valley show the quality of his work and Dad loved to show his family as he drove around that he worked on this house or that house. He truly was a master craftsman and he passed his construction skills on to his son Ray.
He passed his love of flying on to his two sons who are both also pilots. He was one of the organizers of the Harrah Flying Club that he helped found in 1954 and was a very active 30-year member. He also spent many hours as a flight instructor getting up at dawn to give lessons and returning home just in time to go to work.
Dad fulfilled one of his lifetime dreams in building his own airplane. He built a Starduster II from scratch, except the engine. He and his buddies flew it back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, several times.
Dad’s philosophy on how to live life was if you treat others as you want to be treated, your life will be good and he lived that by example. He dedicated himself to serving his family, church and community.
Dad served 37 years on the Harrah Volunteer Fire Department (Fire District 5, Station 3). Dad took great joy serving the young men in the area as their Boy Scout leader, taking them on many camping trips and teaching them how to survive in the wilderness. Dad also coached both of his sons in Pee Wee baseball for over 14 years and many boys called him “Coach.” Dad also volunteered his time and abilities as the Harrah building inspector.
Dad taught Sunday School at Harrah Grace Brethren Church and he believed that whatever time was spent teaching children was time well spent–he said it would always come back tenfold. Dad devoted untold hours to the Grace Brethren Clear Lake Camp in developing a program for youth.
Dad had a life-changing accident in 2000 and was overwhelmed by the love and support of the Harrah community; and he heard at that time from many young people on how he had impacted their lives.
Dad’s service went beyond his own community, travelling to South America and Africa on mission teams doing construction and maintenance work in remote villages.
Dad met Mom ~ Dorothy Jean Campbell ~ at a Toppenish-Wapato football game and they were married in Pasco on May 30, 1948. At the time of Mom’s death, they had been married 57 years. Without Mom, Dad’s life was just not the same; he just never recovered and we believe he died of a broken heart.
Dad is lovingly survived by his son Lyle Emmett Taylor Jr. (“Buck”) and his wife, Jacque, of Yakima; his daughter, Pam Sandifer and her husband, Harlan, of Grandview; and his son, Ray and his fiancee, Julia Lewis, of Albuquerque. Dad was Gramps to his grandchildren (in birth order) Shelby Hall, husband Dan, daughters Jessica and Taylor; Holly Ohler, husband Joe, children Baylee and Wyatt; Jason Emmett Taylor, wife Melissa, sons Justin and Bryce; Shaun Taylor and wife Lydia, who are expecting their first child in November; and Chad Sandifer and his daughter Talyn; Bobbie Jean Taylor (“BJ”) and Colton Taylor.
Dad is also survived by his daughter-in-heart Marleita Taylor of Snohomish, Washington. Two of Dad’s brothers also survive him – Clyde Taylor of Kingston and Orval Taylor of Yakima. Dad was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Glen, and his beloved wife Dorothy. Dad is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to offer a very special thank you to Dad’s coffee buddies at the Harrah Cafe. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving our Dad.
Services for Dad will be on Friday, March 27th at 1 p.m. at the Harrah Grace Brethren Church with concluding services immediately following at the Wapato Reservation Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Harrah Cafe or to the Harrah Fire Department. Merritt Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.