February 10, 1935 – July 29, 2021
Larry Jay Taylor, age 86, passed away on July 29, 2021.
He was born in Ogden, Utah, on February 10, 1935. After growing up in Utah and Montana, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. While in flight school at NAS Pensacola, he met and later married his wife, Glenda. Several years later, while stationed at a submarine test facility, he attended George Washington University, where he earned a juris doctor (doctor of law) degree. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander and loved military service, but decided that six months a year at sea wasn’t the best situation for him and his growing family. He was honorably discharged after 11 years of service, and he moved his family to Glenda’s hometown, Pensacola, where he remained for 54 years until his death.
He entered a law partnership with an experienced attorney, and after many years practicing law, he used his legal expertise in doing estate and tax planning.
A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he loved studying and teaching from the Scriptures. He was always willing to serve in whatever capacity he was needed, and especially loved doing missionary work and serving in the temples of the Church.
He was a very private person and did not particularly care for socializing. He often preferred to spend time alone. Despite having a large extended family, at family gatherings he joined everyone for dinner and then retreated to the bedroom to watch tv – coming out only once in a while to update everyone on the football score! He enjoyed listening to music, particularly patriotic, classical, and anything by the Boston Pops. He taught himself to play the harmonica and loved accompanying his wife on piano as other family members sang, mostly older classics. He was a pilot and loved to fly. He was a true patriot, and showed his love for his country by volunteering in political campaigns and supporting issues he believed in. Not too many people can say, as he could, that they watched government hearings on C-SPAN for hours on end! He was a sports lover, and while he had his favorite teams, he would watch any game that was on. He especially enjoyed watching his own children play t-ball and baseball when they were young (and had plenty of “advice” for their coaches!) The babies and younger kids and were always his favorites (he had no use for teenagers, and felt pretty much the same about adults!). His grandkids were sure they’d be rich one day from all the quarters he pulled out of their ears.
He was not a sentimental man, and he rarely showed a softer side to anyone, the exception being his 7th and youngest child, Shelley, who is mentally disabled as the result of a terrible drowning accident when she was only 11 months old. Shelley is everyone’s friend, a sweet, beautiful soul, and she was his special “buddy” (her word for him). Shelley could bring out the best in him, making him laugh and being the pal that went everywhere with him and just loved being by his side. Even in his last few days of life, hearing her voice on the phone brought a smile to his face and a twinkle to his eye, and he tried harder to speak so she could hear and understand him than he did with anyone else. They spoke on the phone just an hour or so before he passed away, and she ended their conversation as she always did -- by saying “I love you, Daddy!”
He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Fewell, and stepfather, Leo Rowley; brother, Glen Taylor; sister, Joyce Taylor; son David Taylor; and grandson Justin Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Glenda Odom Taylor; daughters, Laurie Taylor, of Cantonment, FL; Tammy Price; of Pensacola, FL; Karen Bambas (K.J.), of Lebanon, TN; and Shelley Taylor, of Lebanon, TN; sons Randy Taylor (Jules), of Oklahoma City, OK; and Keith Taylor (Dixie), of Hoschton, GA; as well as 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
His family would like to express special thanks to the nurses and staff of Specialty Care Health and Rehabilitation Center for the kind, professional, exceptional care they provided for Mr. Taylor in his final days of life.
A visitation for Larry will be held Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534. A graveside service will occur Monday, August 2, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EasternGateMemorial.com for the Taylor family.
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