Ronald Taylor

Ronald Glenn Taylor was born in Evanston, Illinois, on 12 Jun 1932 and died of cancer on 27 October 2012 in Hurricane, Utah. His parents were Raymond Clyde and Dorothea Gerston Taylor. He was married to Louise Saknit and they had a son. They were later divorced. He married Mariana Meyers on 5 September 1966 in Sugar City, Idaho.

When Ron was 2 his parents moved to Libertyville, Illinois, and he spent his growing up years there. He graduated from Libertyville Township High School in 1950 and left there to attend Lawrence College (now Lawrence University) in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music. His growing up years were spent playing for various venues which included the local Episcopal Church, high school plays and choir and participated in the high school band and orchestra playing Sousaphone or Tuba. He could play every instrument except trombone and flute.

In the winter of 1955 he left Libertyville for Southern California to seek his fortune. His desire to work at the movie studios was squashed because he didn't have the necessary contacts to gain employment there. He worked at a variety of jobs but music was always his first love. He participated in choirs from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley. He worked under a variety of directors with many of them being published musicians. He organized and arranged music for a choral group in Long Beach and maintained his friendship with them even after he married and moved to Riverside.

While in Riverside he met and married Mariana and in 1977 they adopted their daughter, Angela, who was 14 at the time. His love for music continued and he accompanied Robert Johnston, a tenor, as well as other singers of renown. He accompanied Sallyanne Werner Bachman, in concerts in Southern California as well as at the LDS Temple Visitor Center in Los Angeles. He directed The Mikado that was sponsored by the Riverside West LDS Stake and became the tech director with the Riverside Community Players. His unique ability to pick the correct music for the situation gave him opportunities to work with a variety of people in a variety of places. After their move to Hurricane in 2001, Ron played for many artists at the St. George Tabernacle, and other venues, sang with the Hurricane and Heritage Choirs, and arranged music for the ward choir in the 20th ward where he was the choir director.

He is survived by his wife, Mariana a son, Byron of Sugar Land, Texas. and a daughter, Angela, of Herriman, Utah, a sister, Charlotte Seiler, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, numerous nephews and nieces, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Clyde and his parents.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Southern Utah Home Care and Hospice for their time and loving care given to Ron during his illness. A special thanks to Sheila Larsen who gave of her time and expertise untiringly and the rest of the crew for their concern and caring.

Funeral services will be November 3, 2012 at the 20th ward Far West LDS Building on 3400 West (behind Wal-mart) in Hurricane. There will be a viewing and opportunity to visit with the family on Friday, November 2 from 6 – 8 PM and on Saturday morning from 10 – 10:45 at the Far West Chapel.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Perpetual Education Fund through the LDS Church.