Russell C. Taylor
St. George
Russell C. Taylor passed away peacefully in St. George, Utah on April 3, 2016. He was born November 25, 1925 in Red Mesa, Colorado, the seventh of nine children of Leo Sanford Taylor and Stella Dean Taylor. The Taylor family moved from Red Mesa to Provo, Utah when Russell was 3 years old. While attending Provo High School, Russell was an accomplished athlete and played varsity football. Upon graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a medical corpsman during World War II.
After returning from the Navy, Russell enrolled at Brigham Young University but was soon called to serve a two-year LDS mission to the Northwestern States Mission. After his mission, Russell continued his college education at BYU graduating in 1951. During his time at BYU, Russell met and married Joyce Elaine Mortensen of Chicago, Illinois in the Salt Lake Temple on February 28, 1952.
The newlyweds resided in Kansas City, Missouri and then moved to Butte, Montana. In 1957, the Taylors made Denver, Colorado their home and raised their family there. Russell had a 33-year career in the group insurance field concluding with a partnership in the consulting firm of Galbraith & Green.
Russell was an active member of the LDS Church and served in stake presidencies, including as stake president of the Denver West Stake and as regional representative on two different occasions. He served as mission president of the Georgia Atlanta Mission and as president of the Denver Colorado Temple. In 1984 Russell was called as a member of the First Quorum of Seventy.
Russell is survived by his beloved wife Joyce of 64 years, 6 children, 4 sons: Gregory, Mark, Warren and Timothy all residents of Denver, 2 daughters: Colleen Taylor Tanner of Draper, Utah and Janis Taylor Castillo of North Salt Lake, Utah. He is also survived by 24 (soon to be 26) grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.
Russell Taylor was a man of great integrity and a generous benefactor of many community, educational and church projects. He lived life to the fullest. He loved his wife Joyce and his family. He loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faithfully served his church and fellowmen.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 9:30 to 10:30 am., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am at the LDS Chandler building located at 1068 West Chandler Drive, St. George. Interment will be at the St. George Tonaquint Cemetery.
