Thomas Taylor

Thomas Winford Taylor June 23, 1927 – October 8, 2018 Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. Thomas was preceded in death by both of his parents John and Lela May Taylor, his wife, Wanda Taylor of 59 years, his 7 siblings, and a great-granddaughter, Coralee. Thomas is survived by his four children, Michael Taylor, Melinda Blackeagle, Mark Taylor and John Taylor. His 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Thomas was born in Reyland, Texas on June 23, 1927. He was the youngest son of eight children. Raised in Vernon, Texas - he quit school in the 8th grade to work in the cotton fields. Later he joined the Navy on December 14, 1945 at 18 years of age. He served as a Seaman First Class on the U.S.S. Cumberland Sound AV-17 that was a part of the testing of the first atomic bomb along the Bikini Atoll. His duties involved working on a boat crew that took the scientists to the island each day until they were ready to set it off. He was honorably discharged on October 16, 1947 and received a WWII Victory Medal. After his time in the Navy, Tom went on to marry Wanda Brazil of Bell Gardens, California. They eloped to Arizona in 1951. He then continued his schooling and received his high school diploma from Bell Gardens Adult School. They raised four children and attended Bell Gardens Christian Church where Tom served as a deacon and elder. He also coached the church men’s softball team where he frequently had to advise his players from the sidewalk due to getting riled up during the game. Tom worked at Lynco Grinding, Co. for most of his career and retired in 1989. Over the years he came to own an acoustic Martin Guitar that he pawned multiple times before he had the money to keep it. He was known for playing his guitar(s) and singing tenor on the church worship team as well as at home with friends and family. Tom taught each of his sons and some of his grandsons how to play the guitar as well. In the spring of 1990, Tom and his wife moved to Zillah, Washington where they lived with and cared for his mother-in-law, Sybil Brazil. He was an elder at McKinley Church of Christ till 2005 and later became a member of Zillah Church of the Nazarene. Tom moved up to Brookdale Retirement Community in May of 2018 where he passed away on October 8, 2018 at 91 years of age. Tom loved the Lord and put his Faith first and foremost. He was an active member in the churches he attended and could almost always be heard singing hymns. A few of his favorites were: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”, “Love Lifted Me”, “I’ve Got a Mansion” and “I’m Depending on You.” If he couldn’t be found in his chair playing his guitar, singing or watching a baseball game, he could be found out on the golf course. He was a member out at Cherry Hill golf course in Granger since the time they moved up to Washington. Tom would go golfing with some friends at least once a week and participated in many tournaments over the years. Tom was an incredibly generous, caring and loving man. He lived his Faith. Services will be Saturday, October 13th, 2018 at Valley Hills Mortuary at 10 a.m. A graveside service will follow at the Zillah cemetery. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Taylor, please visit our flower store.