William (Bill) Alexander Taylor
Nov 3, 1930 – April 23, 2018
With a sadness we announce the passing of our father, William “Bill” Taylor, who died peacefully at his assisted living home on April 23, 2018 in Calgary AB at the age of 87 Years, concluding the sedentary quarter of an otherwise wild ride.
Bill was from a long line of “William Taylors” and there are a few more Bill’s that follow him in that lineup. Bill was born on November 3, 1930 in Travers Alberta, a once booming town along the railway between Medicine Hat and Aldersyde, South of Brooks, known now only for Travers Reservoir built on the Little Bow River.
Our dad, Bill, is survived by all of us kids; Will (Colina) Taylor of Millet, Brent Taylor (Trudy) of Peace River, Carol (Neil) MacDonald of Balzac, Russell Taylor of Red Deer, and Randal Taylor (Lynn) of Calgary who may share stories at the reception. Bill also has 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren to date. Bill has not a live ancestor, nor a dead descendent on this day.
Bill was long predeceased by his parents William in 1945 and Barbara in 1955. His Sisters Carol (Buddy) Haggerty of Calgary and Violet (Jean) Robbie of Vulcan also left this earth before him. Our mother, Yvonne Taylor, who gave all his children, also predeceased Bill as did Audrey, his later wife, and sadly his mate Bimbo * (not in that order).
Bill attended high school in Vulcan and attended trade school in Calgary in ’51 & ‘52. for welding and mechanics. His marks through school were glowing in “A”s and “H” and won awards, his handwriting was impeccable scroll. His yearbook notes dislikes and likes to define the students on a personal level. Bill noted women as dislikes; next line was women too, for likes. He married Yvonne (aka Suzey), our Mother in Blairmore AB on November 26, 1955.
Bill set-up shop in Nanton in his early career years as a blacksmith and welder performing agricultural and oilfield welding and repair and making ranch brands and ornamental ironwork. He moved on to mobile welding in the oil patch and moved to Calgary and eventually working for quite some time in the Arctic as sought-after welder. Being unable to perform up to his legendary reputation after losing vision in one eye, he retired and returned to Nanton for a time eventually returning to Vulcan. Bill spent his last years in Calgary more or less behaving himself.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. Our childhood memories are full of losing fishhooks and tangling fish lines with one another, getting lost in the bush with our GPS dog and running around oil rigs. Dad was full on work and full-on play and he was not here to seek anyone’s approval. He had un-common sense, hidden emotional intelligence and saw more dimensions from his one good eye than most do with two. He was aware, quiet humble and reserved with outrageous sprinklings of reckless abandon as anyone that knew him could attest. He knew people on one level. No authority controlled him and no one was beneath him. He preferred dogs, cats and children over people.
Family and friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Bill’s colorful life at Funeral services being held at the Vulcan United Church on Saturday April 28, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. with Sue MacDonald officiating. Interment will follow at the Vulcan Cemetery.
All are welcome to a casual reception being held at the church which will be followed later as Family meets at the Vulcan Legion (Bill Is recognized as a longstanding 71-year member). We shall tip a glass of Black Velvet to honor and share memories together with the off-centric sense of humor that this crazy son-of-a-gun left us with.
No flowers are necessary because Bill was allergic to such niceties. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vulcan chapter of the Royal Canadian Legion in his name (maybe to cover Bill’s previous damages?).
The family would like to thank Bill’s wonderful caregivers and staff at Monterey Seniors Village in Calgary for their outstanding care over the more than a decade and especially in his past few weeks where he has diminished in health and been the subject of much thoughtful care and support from familiar staff and in his familiar surroundings.
* Bimbo was the beloved dog who hogged all the affection and shared many of the highlights of Bill’s back road travels.
I remembered Bill & Yvonne when they lived in Nanton. They were good friends of my parents: Pic & Jo Monroe. I don’t remember what New Years I babysat for the Taylors, but remember them to have lots of laughs and lots of fun.
It is with fond memories, I remember Bill. Condolences to the family members and close friends.