Obituary of Dean Taylor

Obituary (Cortes) Dean Taylor was born October 5, 1934 to Gaylord and Florence Taylor, in Unity, Sask., little brother to Maxine. Lee was born 12 years to the day after Dean. The family moved to Edmonton, Alberta when his Dad joined the Army during WWII. Taylors moved to Whitehorse, YT when Dean was 14 years of age, where there were plenty of jobs available. So he quit school in grade 10 and started working on the paddle wheelers and learned to make some mean clam chowder, he has shared his recipe to some of his dearest friends. He was a heavy equipment operator for the Army, drove truck and learned to run many kinds of equipment.. He became an employee of DND Army Fire Dept., where he met and fell in love with Elva Pauley, who also worked for the Army. They were married in 1958, Valorie, was born in 1959. Dean moved his little family to Edmonton in 1964, hoping to find employment to be closer to "civilization". He took a barber's course, drove truck but was "too old" at 30 years to become a city Firefighter. He hired on with DND Army Namao as a firefighter, then transferred to DOT. When he was given a chance to move his family to the Fort St. John Airport Fire Department, he gladly accepted. He became involved with golf again, became part of the "Airport Clan", all of whom he counted as friends to the end. Dean was offered the Fire Chief's job at the Fort Nelson Airport in 1971, became part of the "Fort Nelson Airport Clan". He decided to try something different and Elmer Westergaard made him an employee of Pacific Petroleums in 1977. Dean was transferred back to Fort St. John in 1978 where the company had become Petro-Canada. He worked in the drilling department for awhile, then decided to try the Surface Landmans job. He truly loved his job, as he was able to talk to farmers and land-owners about anything to do with oil or gas drilling, etc. on their land. He spoke their language and had been interested in farming all his life. After his early retirement in 1989, he started up his own business doing the same thing, for five years. Dean enjoyed helping his farmer friends in East Pine with haying, cultivating, helping in the fields, anything to do with tractors, hay and cows. He also very much enjoyed trips to the Maritimes with Elva's family, lobster and scallop fishing, deep sea fishing off Prince Edward Island. Dean loved being part of her much larger family, and he in turn, was much loved and respected by them. Dean loved all sports and participated in hockey, bowling, curling, but his great love was golf. He spent wonderful days on the golf course in the early morning hours with Lloyd Olson and Don Holloway. He loved seeing the deer, especially the fawns in the spring. Dean loved his family unconditionally. Valorie married Harold Johnsen in 1985, he loved being grandpa to his two grandchildren, Stacey and Michael, and watched them grow up into wonderful young adults. After many long years of declining health, Dean peacefully went to meet his Lord with his family at his side in the early morning hours of April 26th, 2011. A celebration of his life was held at the Peace Lutheran Church on April 30th, Pastor Don Holloway and Rev. Kebede Dibaba officiating, internment in Woodlawn Cemetery on May 2nd. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Dean is survived by Elva, wife of almost 53 years, daughter Valorie (Harold), Stacey and Michael Johnsen, brother Lee (Leigh), brother-in-law Gerald Yeatheard , nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Gaylord, mother Florence, sister Maxine. Expressions of sympathy can be made in Dean's memory to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation or the Fort St. John Palliative Care Society. Also comments can be left on the wall of Hamres Funeral Chapel website www.hamresfuneral.com. Memorial Service APR 30. 02:00 PM Peace Lutheran Church 9812 - 108 Ave Fort St. John, BC, CA, V1J 5S4 Services