Posted on 30 July 2009.
John Leonard Taylor was born in 1916 in East Chicago, Indiana to Mr. & Mrs. John H. Taylor. He was an active, athletic boy who loved to play in all sports and excelled in both his studies and music. He chose Purdue University, graduating in 1938 with Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgical Engineering. During his college years, Len was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, played football, and sang with the Purdue Glee Club. After college he commenced a life-long career in management/sales with Inland Steel Company, starting at the City Office in Chicago, Illinois. In 1939, he married his college sweetheart, Beverlie Jean Rice. They had two sons, Scott John Taylor and Bruce Leonard Taylor.
Len Taylor enhanced his full business career with many and varied civic responsibilities. During the decade, he lived and worked in Davenport, Iowa, Len established a new state territory for his employer Inland Steel. At the same time, he took advantage of the opportunity to become Cub Master and Scoutmaster for his sons’ scout troops, as well as actively participating in their school activities and extra-curricular sports.
In 1959 he was made manager of the St. Paul, Minnesota District office of Inland Steel. At that time, he and his family moved to North Oaks, a beautiful suburb of St. Paul. A decade later, he returned to Inland Steel’s main office in Chicago, Illinois where he completed his successful business career.
The Taylor family enjoyed many years of family time at Warm Springs Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where Len and his sons together climbed the Grand Teton Mountain. One of Len’s favorite pastimes was hiking with his family and exploring the various Teton wilderness trails. Jackson Hole was his favorite place for vacations and western living. Because he favored that area, the plan was to retire there. In 1974, however, while returning to Chicago from ranch days, a side trip to Estes Park, Colorado opened a new chapter in his life – a future home site was purchased at Windcliff Estates. When Len was able to take early retirement in 1979, he saw the dream of Wildernest materialize for him and Bev after they built their Windcliff home. For 25 years, Estes Park was Len’s home and a haven for his sons, their families, and his and Bev’s many friends and relatives to visit. Len was active in multiple Estes Park civic boards and organizations, including the Men’s Chorus, the Library Board, and the Estes Park Art Center. Good Samaritan Village was the wonderful conclusion to Len’s long and happy life.
As a most loving husband, father and grandfather, Len will be a treasured memory to his family – wife Beverlie Jean Taylor of Estes Park, Colorado; son Bruce L. Taylor (& wife Jacqueline)of Evergreen, Colorado; granddaughter April Taylor-Green (& husband R. Scott Green), great- grandsons Tyler and Logan Green of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Scott Taylor of Greenville, South Carolina; and granddaughters Kim Taylor of Gainesville, Florida and Susan Taylor-Knell (& husband Charles) of Oakton, Virginia. Both of Len’s parents and his brother Wilson preceded Len in death, but he is survived by his brother Dr. Harold L. Taylor (and wife Yvonne) of Hebron, Indiana and his nieces Kathy Little, Linda Taylor, and nephews Mark Taylor and John Taylor, all of Indiana.
Memorial services to celebrate Len’s life were held on July 27, 2009, at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado. Having been a revered member of the Estes Park Arts Center, memorials in Len’s memory, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to the Estes Park Art Center in care of Allnutt Funeral Service at Estes Park Chapel, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado 80517. Any one sending such kind memorials should know that they are in accordance with Len’s wishes and are truly appreciated by his family.
See
www.allnutt.com to see Len’s on-line obituary and send a message to the family.
