William B Taylor , October 12, 1936 — April 24, 2018

Willard “Bill” Burnham Taylor of South Beach, Oregon passed away on April 24, 2018 at the age of 81. Bill spent his youth in Groton, Connecticut. He lost his mother, Ada Emma (Gavitt) Taylor, shortly after childbirth and was then raised by Clara Elizabeth (Winkler) Taylor and his father, Willard George Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his sister Marcia (Taylor) Vorra and his brother Richard Taylor. He is survived by his brothers Lionel (Pete) Taylor, Donald Taylor, and George Taylor. Bill met his wife, Brigitte Margot Smentek, in Germany in 1956 while serving in the Army.

They were married for 50 years. He was an Engineer with IBM, known in his family as the company “I’ve Been Moved”. Brigitte and Bill moved their family from New York, to Germany, to Utah, to Colorado, and to California.

Once their children left home and Bill retired from IBM, they moved to Colorado and eventually settled in Oregon to spend their final years with frequent visits by their growing family and the companionship of their lifetime friends, Eddie and Kitty Gregory. After his wife’s passing, Bill was fortunate to have found love a second time with Fran Hast. Bill and Fran spent over 10 years together enjoying their community on the Oregon Coast and traveling.

Bill was loved by all for his sense of humor and his sharing of his many interests with those around him. He was by all accounts a Renaissance man with interests that ranged from wine making to shooting to fishing to oil painting and tinkering. He also had a special place in his heart for animals, most recently his cat of the last 21 years, Charlee.

Bill is survived by his children Lorraine (Donnie) Ulricke Gilley of Colorado, Peggy (Samuel) Ann Walker of Colorado, Willard (Mary Lovell) Burnham Taylor III of Colorado, and Karen (Dave Bergerson) Lynn Taylor of California. Bill is also survived by his 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews that loved him dearly. Celebrations of Bill’s life and love are being planned for Newport and Colorado.

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