John E. 'Jack' Taylor, 92
"I, John E. "Jack" Taylor of Columbia Falls, assumed a less sophisticated role in the carbon cycle on Oct. 14, 2024. Several health issues ganged up on me when I was thinking about something else.
"I was born on Oct. 17, 1931, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the first of four sons of Edgar H. and Margaret Munro Taylor. The family moved around a lot, residing in Utah, Idaho and Texas before landing in Pocatello, Idaho. This became my hometown. I attended junior high and high school there. My plan was to study forestry at the University of Idaho, but the sudden death of my father in 1949 left me the man of the family at age 17. Not wanting to leave the family right then, I enrolled in a new program at Idaho State College (now ISU), called Art and Architecture. My world seemed to settle down, but the unexpected advent of the Korean War in 1950 changed many things. I stayed in school another term or two, but finally dropped out. I had joined a National Guard unit and now found that I could request active duty in the US Army. Assuming I had found a direct path to Korea, where I had many friends, I enlisted. The Army decided otherwise and ordered me to Germany and the Army of Occupation.
"During my abortive college career I had met Louise Schlechter, a girl from Mountain Home, Idaho. By the time I received overseas orders we were married, and I was an E5 Sergeant. Hence, I could have Louise with me in Germany, so we had a European honeymoon six months after our wedding.
"A delightful troop ship cruise across the North Atlantic in wintertime brought us back to the states and the realities of the real world. Louise had completed her BSA degree in Elementary Education and we had GI Bill support, but we had tight rations for a while. Teaching positions were scarce, but I was able to pick up daily jobs from the Job Service program. I also found some dance band work. I had played double bass viol since high school and still do.
"The break from school let me think more about a career, and my earlier interest in resource management flared up. I returned to ISC in a course called "Conservation," a broad field review of the natural world. Then, I found summer employment with the US Bureau of Land Management, and at last found my perfect working world — rangelands. I have had a 60-plus year love affair with the grasslands and shrublands of the world, especially those of western North America. After earning a BS degree in Zoology at Washington State, I moved to Montana State to pursue an MS. My timing was perfect; I showed up during an intense budget crunch, and teaching staff were leaving for more stable environments. I began teaching classes while working on the MS, and somehow this just kept going for some 40 years. I finished the MS and also left for a couple of years to earn a PhD at North Dakota State. I retired in 1995 as a Professor Emeritus of Range Science.
"My home life was busy, too. Over the next few years, we had two girls (Diana and Hillary) and a boy (David) to join our little band. We were involved in many cultural and outdoor activities, and traveled a bit, mostly in country. I think we had an exceptionally interesting life together. The children were all involved in music, and we had a lot of fun. Louise was back at school, teaching, and I was spending a lot of professional time in the field.
"Unfortunately, in the mid-seventies, Louise was diagnosed with myelocytic leukemia, which changed the family dynamic significantly. She continued to teach for a while, but her energy diminished to the point of exhaustion. Even so, she began a Master of Education degree at MSU and taught several college courses in social studies and classroom management. She completed her degree requirements not long before her death on Jan. 15, 1984. By then both girls were married, and David was in high school.
"I kept at academia, but without much joy, and I retired as soon as I had the requisite years of service. I was not sure what to do next. And then three major life events happened at about the same time. The Lewis and Clark bicentennial was approaching, and I saw a chance to be involved. I had studied that great travel in detail and was very familiar with the Montana portions. I became a tour guide and speaker on many aspects of the trip. This was a great thing for me just then.
"About the same time, I met Eric Funk, a consummate musician and pianist who became my dear friend. I unwrapped my bass and we began playing together. It soon became clear that we had an exceptional level of communication. We played music together as long as we could. It is about as much fun as one can have standing up.
"In 1995 after more than ten years single, I met and subsequently married Kay Flinn of Helena. I moved to Helena and spent many enjoyable years there. Kay with her deep western Montana roots, brought a new family, friends and adventure. We had a wonderful time together, filled with travel, music, family and a shared appreciation of the natural world. We moved to the Flathead valley in 2015 for health reasons and enjoyed exploring the northwest corner of the state."
Jack is survived by his brother Lee (Judy) Taylor; his children Diana (Gregg) Norton, Hillary (Ian) Grant, David (Jaelyn Eberle) Taylor; and grandchildren Chelsea, Riley, Hannah, Nick, Quin and Will. He is survived by Kay Flinn’s children, Kathy (Doug) Crockett, Rorie Hanrahan, Mamie Flinn (Neil); grandchildren Michael, Tyler, Dani, Baily, Makenzie, Jacob, Katie, Grace and Abi; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife Louise Taylor, his wife Kay Flinn Taylor; his brothers David and Gene Taylor; and Kay’s son Tom Hanrahan.
Jack will be dearly missed by his many friends and legions of former students, some of whom he says may have forgiven him his academic trespasses.
The family wishes to thank the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls for the loving care they have provided to both Jack and Kay these past few years.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be forthcoming.
If any of his friends or acquaintances wish to celebrate his memory, he asks to do so with some form of useless indulgence and try to imagine him sharing. Otherwise, a donation to the Louise M. Taylor Scholarship in the college of Education at MSU Bozeman would be appreciated. www.securelb.imodules.com, MSU Alumni Foundation (800) 457-1696, (406) 994-2053.
Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Jack’s family. To send online condolences please visit www.columbiamortuary.com.