Sidney Francis Taylor

Loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, Sidney Francis Taylor died in his home on February 22, 2017. Sid was well-renowned for his culinary skills and enjoyed serving fresh vegetables from his garden. He loved road trips and traveling; his favorite trips were summer vacations with his family and grandchildren in Coronado, Pinetop and Park City. Sid was a Mensa, Master Gardener, an excellent bridge and poker player, and a staunch fan of Arizona sports teams. He enjoyed music and everyone loved his singing. Sid was a former member of First Families of Arizona, Encanto Kiwanis, Phoenix County Club and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.

Sid, the youngest of nine children, was born to John Lees and Margaret Wilson Taylor on August 9, 1923. His mother’s family traveled by wagon from Texas to the Valley in 1888 and established a dairy farm and family home on Encanto and Grand. His father’s family traveled from England, lived in Philadelphia and Denver, and finally, for health reasons, settled in Phoenix in 1893.

He attended Grand Avenue Grade School, Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix Junior College and the University of Arizona where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. During WWII he served in the US Navy and after returning from the war, he met his “true love” Lois Peterson. Sid and Lois were married in Phoenix in 1949 - a marriage that lasted 67 years.

They moved to Minnesota where he planned to attend veterinary school at the University of Minnesota, but because of an opportunity to work with Dupont in the PolyChemical Division his plans changed. He became District Manager of Nitrogen Products Division in Philadelphia. Later the family returned to Arizona where Sid worked for NY Life Insurance Company before retiring. He also managed the family farms in Minnesota.

He is survived by his wife Lois and children Mary Ellen Taylor, Nancy Miller (John), and son William Taylor. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Alyssa Lundy, Christine Dubuc, Cynthia Miller, William and Charles Taylor; four great grandchildren: James and Evie Lundy, Lillian and Cecilia Dubuc, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Tuesday, February 28 at A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary - 710 W. Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. A Celebration of Life will be held at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church - 1500 W. Maryland Ave in Phoenix at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 4 with a reception following.

Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of the Valley or Shepherd’s Foundation of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.