Services will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at Callahan Edfast Mortuary. Reception will follow at the Redlands Community Center.
He was a small business owner.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Bratton Taylor; one son, Ethan Jantzer of Denver; one daughter, Amber Streweler of Grand Junction; three brothers, Don of Delta, and Dean and Roger, both of Grand Junction; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 521 Rood Ave., Grand Junction 81501.
Russell Dale Taylor
March 2, 1952 - August 12, 2016
Russell Taylor passed away peacefully on August 12, 2016, at Community Hospital after a long and courageous struggle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His wife and best friend, Kathy, was by his side. He was 64 years old.
Russ was born in Scottsbluff, NE on March 2, 1952, to Richard and Irene Taylor. He spent his childhood in various towns in Colorado while his father pursued his career in education. During his childhood, his father instilled a love of nature and the outdoors in him and his brothers with many fishing and hunting expeditions in the wilderness of Colorado.
Russ graduated from Thornton High School in 1970, and married his high school sweetheart, Claudia Grauten. They had two children, Ethan and Amber, and were later divorced.
He moved to San Francisco in the early 1980's and worked for ten years in high rise construction, despite a life-long fear of heights. While living in San Francisco, he discovered a passion for sailing and spent many hours sailing on the bay.
He moved back to Grand Junction in 1992, where he met his soul mate, Kathleen Bratton. They were married at Fish Falls in Steamboat Springs on June 7th of that same year, which was also Kathy's birthday. Every year after that, they celebrated what Russ referred to as their ""annibirthery"".
Russ and Kathy shared a love of the great outdoors and spent most of their weekends by lakes and rivers fishing and camping with their canine companions, Sissy and Jasper.
Russ opened Discount Lumber shortly after their marriage and worked until his MS prevented him from continuing. After purchasing a handicapped equipped van, they traveled extensively throughout the west, visiting national parks, monuments, historical sites, and enjoyed numerous fun trips to Las Vegas. On March 30, 2006, Russell was honored by the National MS Society as the Champion of the Year for his efforts in providing cell phones to people with disabilities. That work and his positive, optimistic outlook was an inspiration to all who knew him.
In later years, when he had to spend more time at home, many came to visit him and were given the special treat of his great story telling abilities.
In addition to his loving wife, Kathy, Russ is survived by his son, Ethan Jantzer of Lakewood, and his daughter, Amber Streweler of Grand Junction. He is also survived by his three brothers, Don Taylor of Delta, and Roger and Dean Taylor of Grand Junction. He has four grandchildren, Corbin and Caden Jantzer, and Zane and Max Streweler. Last, but certainly not least, he is survived by Chewbaca, a heart broken Bichon Frise.
A celebration of life well lived will be held at the Callahan-Edfast Chapel on Friday, August 26, at 5:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the Redlands Community Center, 2463 Broadway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MS Society, 521 Rood Avenue, Ste. B, Grand Junction, CO 81501.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18