Richard Taylor

Richard G. Taylor passed away on January 6, 2018 in La Grande, Oregon. A  Celebration of Richard's life will be held on  March 26 2018  at 1:00 pm at the  United Methodist Church in La Grande.He was born on July 1, 1926 in La Grande, Oregon to George and Laura Taylor. Richard married Phyllis J. Harmon on October 8, 1950. He was a lifelong resident of La Grande and a member of The United Methodist Church, The South Forty Club, Blue Mountain Grange, and a Charter Member of the Island City Lions Club.

Richard graduated from La Grande High School and attended Eastern Oregon College. He was a farmer in the Grande Ronde Valley for 39 years. Richard loved to have coffee at Hyde’s, attend the New Year’s Eve Card Party, and attend Family Camp at the Methodist Church Camp at Wallowa Lake, which he did for 18 years. He also loved Country Music and Sunday mornings found him loading the record player with Johnny Cash records and playing them as loud as he could to get his children out of bed.  One of Richard’s favorite sayings was that “He never found a cookie he didn’t like.”

Richard is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of 67+ years, son Rick Taylor and wife Kathy of Baker City, daughter Kim Wilber and husband Phil of Milwaukie, and son Mark Taylor and wife Laura of Gresham. He has eight grandsons, two granddaughter–in-laws, five great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and one niece.

Richard’s favorite activities were watching Hee Haw, The Price is Right, and Family Feud: joining friends for coffee, attending open houses for local businesses, pot lucks, reading history, keeping a journal ( which he did all his life) and visiting with anyone who would take the time to listen. Richard was a wealth of historical information relating to La Grande, Oregon. He was very proud of his hometown. He enjoyed driving the Fair Maids in the Union County Fair Parade and was active in the Island City Hog Wild Days.  His children remember his favorite saying as “Great Friday in the Morning” anytime he didn’t quite like what was happening.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Richard, the family suggests either The United Methodist Church in La Grande, Oregon or to The Island City Lions Club through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. 

A private family burial was held at Island City Cemetery.   On line condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

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