Hank Taylor

1934 - 2017

Hank Taylor obituary, 1934-2017, Cortez, CO

BORN

1934

DIED

2017

Hank Taylor Obituary

October 28, 1934 to June 17, 2017

Hank Taylor was born Henry Scott Taylor in Houston, TX but those are the last two things that Hank would tell you about himself. Hank's father was Benjamin "Gilder" Taylor an engineer at Houston Light and Power Company who sadly died in 1943 when Hank was only eight years old. He and his four-year-old sister, Lauradele Taylor Richards, were raised by their mother, Mary Esther Wright Taylor who was a nurse. Hank grew up in a Houston that still had woods to explore and ponds to sail. His primary goal was to do all the things that people told him he wouldn't be able to do. His first car, a 1926 Model T sedan, sparked his love of cars and led to Hank owning 108 different vehicles in his lifetime. Hank worked nights in the shipyard during high school to earn money for college. He took a break from college to join the Army and travel around Europe before marrying Sandra Lynn Mosher, finishing his teaching degree at the University of Texas, and moving to Albuquerque, NM. Hank taught junior high science and not only instilled a love of science in his students but a love of the outdoors through the skiing and backpacking trips he led. Hank taught his two daughters, Aimee Lynn and Marci Allison to love science and the outdoors as well. After ten years of teaching, Hank went back to school to finish his engineering degree and took a job at Dow Chemical in Freeport, TX. In 1989, the family made it back to the Land of Enchantment, settling in Farmington, NM where Hank was an engineer and engineering supervisor at the Public Service Company of New Mexico. After retirement, Hank moved to Mancos, CO where he spent as much time as possible backpacking, camping, hiking, and downhill and Nordic skiing with his family and many friends, including his best friend and soulmate, Janet Dura. He led numerous Grand Canyon backpacks for folks from all over the country. Hank walked his dog twice a day and hiked right up until the end. He is preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister. He leaves behind his soulmate, Jan; his two daughters, Aimee (Chris) Reynolds and grandsons, Jeremy and Bradley; and Marci (Kevin) Freauff and grandson, Collin; three step-grandchildren with three step-great-grandchildren; his ex-wife and friend, Sandy; his loyal canine companion, Shonie; and many other friends who will remember him well. Hank liked to quote Dr. Suess and he would say, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." If you'd like to donate in Hank's name, he'd appreciate anything given to the Humane Society or you can send a check to help maintain the ski trails he groomed and used: Chicken Creek Nordic, PO Box 111, Mancos, CO 81328.

Published by The Journal on Oct. 25, 2017.
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A true outdoorsman.

Gordon Glass

November 6, 2017

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