17 December 2018:
It is with a very heavy heart that I’ve learned this morning the passing of Chris Taylor, younger brother of Sgt. Phil Taylor who was KIA in Cambodia on 27 May 71 while serving with the Silver Spurs. It was an honor to have met Chris and his family in 2000 for Veterans Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor his brother and all of our fallen Troopers from the 3/17th Air Cav during the Vietnam War. We remained in touch all these years since and have watched Chris’ courageous battle with cancer.
Chris with Dan at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, November 11, 2000 with the wreath honoring all our fallen Troopers from the 3/17th Air Cavalry
Chris also served our nation in the U.S. Army and he rose to the rank of SSG serving in our air defense artillery. He will be greatly missed by his entire family and all of us that had the honor of being called his friend.
Rest-In-Peace ‘little brother,’ you are now at rest with your brother Phil and your parents. God Speed and a slow hand Salute…
Bear
Chris loved to ride!! Often in veteran related events!
More on the loss of Sgt. Phil Taylor:
http://northwestvets.com/spurs/honor2.htm
JTTFA Recovery of Knuckey & Taylor:
The Recovery of 1Lt. Thomas W. Knuckey & Sgt. Philip C. Taylor [as provided by Chris Taylor]
Pictures from our 2000 meeting in D.C. for Veterans Day:
http://northwestvets.com/spurs/reunion.htm
Chris Taylor’s obituary as shared by his family:
Christopher J.Taylor, Sr. – age 60, passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Hospice in Lakeland, Florida on Sunday, December 16, 2018 after a long illness, and courageous fight against cancer.
Chris is survived by his loving children Christopher Taylor, Jr (Michelle) of Grand Island, NY, Shawna Ware (Cedric) of Buffalo, NY, Mathew Key (Stephany) of Lakeland, FL, and LCpl Justin Taylor currently stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; five beloved grandchildren, Kara, Cedric, Jr., Sofia, Annalise, and Clayton; siblings Stephen Taylor (Susan) of Lakeland, FL, Timothy Taylor (Kim) of Covington, GA and Janice Green of Yardley, PA.; Uncle Robert Rohde of Horseheads, NY, Aunt Evelyn Taylor of Elmira, NY, many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Doris Taylor and his brother SGT Philip Taylor.
Chris was born on July 19, 1958 in Elmira, NY. His family moved to Grand Island, NY when he was 9, and he attended Grand Island Sr. High School. From there, he began his service to our country in the United States Army. His choice to go into the Army was fueled by a desire to follow in his older brother, Phil’s, footsteps. His career in Air Defense Artillery took him overseas to Korea and Germany, but his time in Key West, FL was by far his favorite. Key West became his favorite place in the world.
Once Chris left the Army with an Honorable Discharge, he chose to move to Lakeland, FL in 1984. In Lakeland, Chris started his carpet cleaning business, Taylor Bros. Carpet Care. His success was due to his attention to detail and desire to do the best work possible for all of his customers. He was a hard working man, and it was not easy for him to stop working when he was forced to do so in 2013 due to illness.
Late in 2012, Chris was informed that the pain he has been experiencing was related to the fact that he had liver disease caused by a genetic disorder called alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency. He fought to live long enough to get a liver transplant in February 2014, all the while suffering with great pain. Once he recovered from the transplant surgery, Chris felt he has a new lease on life and was incredibly grateful to everyone who cared for him and prayed for him through that time, but mainly grateful to the donor and their family for making the life saving decision to be an organ donor.
Unfortunately, Chris began having discomfort again. The liver doctors told him that his new liver was fine. As the pain continued, Chris’s doctors did further testing and, in September 2015, he was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. He vowed to fight the cancer with all of his might for as long as he could, and he did. He wanted to live long enough to see his son, Justin, graduate from high school, and he wanted to live long enough to meet his grandson, Clayton, both of which he succeeded in doing. In the last few years of his life, Chris made beautiful memories with his family and friends.
Chris’s family was first and foremost in his life. He enjoyed spending time with his siblings, nephews and nieces and, of course, children and grandchildren as often as possible. He was someone in the family that everyone knew they could turn to for guidance, help with their car, or just a listening ear or hug. He loved to tease, laugh and wrestle with everyone. Being a grandfather brought such happiness to Chris. He loved his grandchildren and loved every second that he could spend with them. He was guilty of spoiling them with a candy or two, but especially guilty of letting them know how much they were loved. As a father, Chris taught his children to be respectful, kind, polite and hard-working. He taught them to do their best at work and school, take care of one another, and he taught them to love an appreciate that they are fortunate to live in the United States of America.
Patriotism was another passion of Chris’s. He instilled that in his children, teaching them to respect the flag, thank a veteran, participate in Patriot Guard rides and laying wreaths with Wreaths Across America, He was incredibly proud of each of his boys when they all chose to serve our country in the military — Chris, Jr. in the Air Force, Mat in the Navy and Justin in the Marines. Between him and his boys, they covered as many branches of the service as they could.
We have lost a good man to a horrible disease. Chris would often remind us with a pin that he regularly wore, “Cancer Sucks”. As much suffering as Chris has endured in the past six years with his liver transplant and his cancer, he always gave credit to his doctors and nurses at the VA Hospitals in Pittsburgh and Tampa for taking excellent care of him. He always felt that he had the best care and felt that the doctors truly did their very best for him. We, his family, thank the VA for all that they did to allow us to have Chris in our lives for as long as we did.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Resurrection Catholic Church 333 Terrace Way, Lakeland, FL. After Mass there will be a Patriot Guard escort to Oak Hill Cemetery where a military honor graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Chris’s name to The American Cancer Society, the Wounded Warrior Project, or The Vietnam Veterans Association.
As I write this, Chris’ youngest son Justin is serving our nation with the United States Marine Corps. His oldest son, Chris, Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force and Mat served in the U.S. Navy. Chris was VERY proud of all his sons and their service to our nation!
God Bless,
Bear