Keith L. Taylor 1918 ~ 2011
Keith L. Taylor, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather peacefully passed away at home on Thursday, June 30, 2011 after a long and joyful life.He was born September 18, 1918, in Frisco, Utah to Lydia Alvira Henderson and Augustus Raymond Taylor. Keith graduated from South High School where he excelled in academics and sports. He went on to the University of Utah, where he was on the wrestling and tennis teams and joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in psychology. Keith served an LDS mission in Australia. It was on his journey there that he fell in love with Hawaii, and he returned there to complete a Masters' degree at the University of Hawaii. Keith served in the United States Army as a Sergeant in World War II and a Lieutenant in the Korean War. He married Faye Drushal May 7, 1951, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. The couple had a wonderful life together and added three children, Eric, Anne, and Kyle. Keith spent most of his professional career as a director for the BYU Salt Lake Center. While working there, he earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Utah. Faye preceded Keith in death in 1977. Keith married his second sweetheart, Ruth Bradshaw, June 28, 1986 and became a 'second father' to her two children, Beckie and Rick. Keith was a passionate man who was committed to excellence in everything he did. Among his loves were golf, poetry, coaching, the ocean, racquetball, lemon cream pie, music, and the Utes, but he loved his family above all else. Keith was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather, who taught us all as much in the last ten years we knew him as he did in the first ten. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his three children, Eric (Carol) Taylor, Anne Taylor Harris (Edward), Kyle Ray Taylor, and Ruth's two children: Beckie Bradshaw and Rick Bradshaw. He was very proud of his grand-children: Brett, Lindsey, Zachary, Morgan, Rachel, Devon, Kyrsti, Brynn, and Taylor, and his seven great-grandchildren. The family gives a special thanks to caregivers at the Wentworth, Peregrine Hospice, Renee, Sumara, Pam, and especially, Sonia who loved Keith as we did. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9th at 11:30 a.m. at Neil O'Donnell and Sons Mortuary, 372 East 100 South, where friends may call one hour prior to the services. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 1342 East 500 South. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Keith's name to the USC Davis School of Gerontology on-line at giveto.usc.edu or by mail to USC Office of Annual Giving, 3375 South Hoover Street, UVI-H208, Los Angeles, CA 90089-7799.