Donald Ray Taylor

Donald Ray Taylor passed away April 9, 2023. He was born June 10, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He lived with his parents, Marie and Roy and his brother Gary, until he joined the Air Force in 1957. Shortly after being assigned to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska he met the Prentiss sisters, Jan and Roberta. He charmed them both while cooking his famous “Don’s Mexican dish.” Soon after, Roberta became the love of his life; they were married February 13, 1960. This began a 20-year adventure while Don was transferred to Oklahoma City, Honolulu, Amarillo, Denver and back to Honolulu where their son Anthony Jason (AJ) was born. After a short tour in Minot, North Dakota, Don was sent to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand to a Royal Thai AFB while Roberta and AJ waited for him in Honolulu. His last assignment was in Shreveport, Louisiana. Don decided he definitely wanted to live where there were green trees, mountains and golf courses. He moved his family to Salem, Oregon where he worked for the City of Salem.

Besides his family Don loved cars and golf. He enjoyed buying, selling and restoring old and classic cars. His pride was a restored 1939 Chevy with which he won awards. AJ had three cars before he had his driver’s license. Don and AJ rebuilt a 1965 Mustang together. Don had fun helping AJ collect baseball cards and helping him gather autographs of players at many major league ball parks. He loved music of every genre but mostly jazz and passed that love of music on to AJ, who is now a devoted music fan and a guitar player.

Finally Don and Roberta were old enough to move to Salemtowne, a senior community with a golf course where Don spent the next 25 years golfing every day rain, frost or shine on the beautiful Salemtowne golf course. He was Club Champion one year and had three holes-in-one.

Don is survived by his wife Roberta, Salem, Oregon; his son and daughter-in-law AJ and Summer Taylor of Issaquah, Washington; two granddaughters Eva, Honolulu, Hawaii and Sage, Issaquah, Washington; nieces Erika and Heidi, Salem, Oregon; and brother Gary, Jones, Oklahoma.

Don will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors on August 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Salemtowne, Salemtowne Civic Association, 2900 Oakcrest Drive NW, Salem, Oregon 97304, designated to the golf program.