Ronald Lee Taylor, better known as R.L., passed away peacefully in his sleep in his home in Mt. Pleasant, in the early morning hours of October 14th, 2024, in the care of his devoted daughter Melanie, who loves her Daddy dearly, and the great hospice professionals from Zions Way Home Health and Hospice. He was 89 years old.
R.L. was born in Mt. Pleasant Utah, on November 29th 1934, to Florence Cestella Jensen Stewart Taylor and Alma Ellison Taylor. He had two older half-brothers, Owen and Melvin Stewart who were raised by their grandparents, and a younger brother, Larry Wayne Taylor, and an older sister, Maridean Joyce Taylor Johansen.
R.L. was born smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression. He was 5 years old when World War II began. His parents divorced when he was 11 years old, and he, Maridean, and Larry were subsequently raised by their single mother. It was a hard scrabble life. R.L. learned, at a young age, the value of hard work. "Be a doer" his mother would say. But R.L. would later comment, "I don't remember feeling a lack of anything. I feel we had an average childhood."
R.L. loved to ride horses and to go hunting. He made true, fast, lifelong friends. They enjoyed getting together in the fall to hunt deer. One year he had his face too close to the side-mounted scope on the 30-30 Winchester that his father had given him. When he touched off a round, the scope slammed back, creating a gash that left a scar between his eyes that he carried for the rest of his life. He got the deer though!
As a freshman in high school doctors discovered that R.L. had "an enlarged heart and a murmur", caused by a case of rheumatic fever as a child. They would not allow him to continue playing high school basketball. R.L. regretted that the same heart condition would not allow him to serve a mission for his church, or to join the military to serve his country.
The summer before his junior year in high school, R.L. had saved up $300 and he bought a black 1940 Ford, "and it was fast. I loved it" he was heard to say. That fast car came in handy later on, when he was dating a gorgeous girl from Chester, Carlene Anderson. They attended rival schools. R.L. went to North Sanpete High School, back when they were still called the Rams. Carlene went to Moroni High School. R.L. would be in Moroni, having lunch with Carlene, when the bell would sound, warning that there were only five minutes until the resumption of class. It was said that R.L. could make it back to Mt. Pleasant from Moroni in those five minutes, and be on time for his next class.
R.L. met his future wife of 68 years at a sock hop in the new gym at Moroni High School during his senior year. He married Carlene Vione Anderson of Chester on December 10th, 1954. The young couple moved to Salt Lake City in April of 1955. R.L. quickly found a job working for a construction company building homes. R.L. and Carlene had three children. Ronald Craig, born in 1956. Chad A., born in 1958, and Melanie Ann, born in 1961. R.L. went on to work for the Post Office as a part time letter carrier for a short period, but ended up working for the Air Force at Hill Field, commuting from Salt Lake City for all of those years. R.L. was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in the Elders Quorum and enjoyed being Scoutmaster for a few years.
In 1970 R.L. and Carlene bought a lot in Mt. Pleasant with a dilapidated pioneer home on it. They would later construct a house there, incorporating the pioneer home, to where they would ultimately retire, which they did in 1995. With their love of antiques, it was only natural to open an antique shop in Mt. Pleasant. It was called Heart of Utah Antiques and Collectables. R.L. also stayed busy in retirement buying and renovating four more properties. He was very good at it. The man was a craftsman.
R.L. loved his family, loved his Savior, and loved his country. He was a friend to anyone who needed one, and would give a total stranger the shirt off his back. He truly had a "big heart." He will be greatly missed. R.L. was known to say, "In a hundred years, none of this will matter."
R.L. is survived by his brother, Larry, Cedar City. His children, Craig, Mt. Pleasant, Chad (Jeannette), Mt. Pleasant, and Melanie (James) Hancey, Salt Lake City. Also by seven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and nine great-great grandchildren. R.L. was predeceased by his wife, Carlene, His brothers, Owen and Melvin, and his sister Maridean.
Funeral services will be held October 26th, 2024 at 1100 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant Stake Center. Viewings will be held October 25th, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and October 26th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services in the church. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City cemetery.
