Larry Taylor

LARRY NEWELL TAYLOR

Solon

Larry Newell Taylor passed away at his rural Solon home on Dec. 4, 2016. A Celebration of Life gathering will be at the Avacentre in Solon on Dec. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Larry is survived by his wife of 59+ years. He and Carolyn (Nuzum) were high school sweethearts, married Aug. 4, 1957, at the Christian Church in St. Charles, Iowa. Larry also is survived by his daughter, Kim Rakes (Phil), and his grandon, Taylor Dylan Rakes, all of La Crosse, Wis. Also surviving are two brothers, Ronald Taylor (Vigdis) of Kansas City, Mo., and Mark Taylor of Prague, Okla.; nephews, Adalstein Taylor of Forest City, Iowa, Tyson Taylor of Lawson, Mo., Travis Taylor of Lawson, Mo., and Trever Taylor of Shawnee, Okla.; and two nieces, Kristin Taylor of Forest City and Lori Winter (Mark) of Sonoma, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his son, Barton Larry Taylor; sister, Linda Powell; and parents, Wesley Newell Taylor and Edith Marian Taylor.

Larry was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 22, 1937. He grew up on his parents' farm near St. Marys, Iowa, learning how to do a hard day's work at an early age. Upon graduation from St. Marys High School, Larry was immediately drawn to construction and heavy equipment. He worked for Hennessey Brothers Construction and Wm. R. Hennessey for 45 years. He was referred to as a "dirt artist" for his natural ability to successfully complete each project, expanding his duties as time passed. Their final project together was building Squaw Creek Village in Marion.

Retiring at age 65, Larry was the epitome of one who enjoyed his retirement years. He and Carolyn were active in a ballroom dance group for five years. They also were involved in the statewide Project AWARE watershed effort for five years. His retirement was blessed by his only grandson being born the same year as retirement also, and they were inseparable any time he was visiting.

Living on Coralville Lake was heaven to Larry. Waiting outside his door were activities ranging from hunting and fishing to water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, bicycle trails, his garden and declaring that he had the "best neighbors" in the world. That feeling was mutually shared. From woodcutting to gardening, a neighborhood hog roast, being Merlin the Magician for a party, or just filling a child's bike tire with air, Larry was the "go to" guy who got it done.

Larry was a member of New Song Episcopal Church in Coralville.

Larry donated regularly to the Salvation Army in Iowa City, noting that it lacks a big overhead, yet does a lot with what it receives. The family would welcome any memorial donations be directed there.