Cloudy, 28° F
(October 26, 2002)
Darryl Dean Taylor, the father of a Powell man, died Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Madison Valley Hospital in Ennis, Mont.
He was born in Glenrock, the youngest of three children of Raymond Rutho and Laura Vollman Taylor. He attended grade school in a country school north of Douglas and high school in Douglas before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in November 1943. He served as a signalman, gunner and ship's boxer until April 1946.
Mr. Taylor worked the oil fields of Wyoming and Montana, employed by Halliburton Well Services, and operated his water truck business out of Pinedale. He was a pilot for a time.
Then he spent several years as a horse rancher before turning to mining and assay work in Arizona, and later, in western Montana. His final residence was in Laurin, Mont., with his wife of 10 years, Ruth Templin Taylor.
An ace equipment operator, he enjoyed working placer mines in Virginia City, Mont., and one summer on a placer mine in the wilds of Alaska. Before his illness, he enjoyed gathering with friends, miners and family. He served as the life of the party, entertaining with his humor and stories. The coffee pot was always hot, and no weary soul was refused.
Survivors include a son, Russell Ray Taylor and wife Sandra of Powell and grandchildren Rebekah Ruth and Amanda Beth of Powell; a brother, Kenneth Taylor of Douglas; a sister, Iola Pyle of Casper; and grandchildren by son Dana Clark Taylor, Shawn Dee Gehart, Darryl Dana and Echo Bettine Taylor, all of Casper. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Stephanie Rose and James Vance Gerhart II, and daughter-in-law Debbie Taylor of Casper with grandchild Miranda Loree.
He was preceded in death by a wife, Dixie Dawn Taylor in 1991 and a son, Dana Clark Taylor in 1997.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Virginia City, Mont., on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. Funeral services will also be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Powell. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.
