DALE CLAUDE TAYLOR

Celebrating the Life and Love of

Dale Claude Taylor

September 4, 1951 – June 5, 2025

With reverence for a loving father and grandfather, we announce the passing of Dale Claude Taylor, who passed away quietly in his sleep on June 5th , 2025. He was born in Blackfoot, Idaho in 1951 and lived for a time in Utah before moving to Flagstaff, Arizona near 2nd and B Street where he spent his childhood, attended Mount Elden Middle School and graduated in the first graduating class as a proud Panther from Coconino High School. He later moved his family to Central Heights in Globe, Arizona where he lived for over 45 years.

At the age of 19, he was made a construction supervisor because of his natural ability and work ethic, and he soon worked on the East Flagstaff chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and on another in Payson, Arizona. He continued residential, commercial, and industrial construction for his entire career. Notable projects include overseeing construction of additional chapels for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mesa, Arizona, the Stake Center Chapel in Globe, Arizona, Lee Kornegay School in Miami, and the Peoria Food Bank. He was a longtime subcontractor for the area mines and throughout Arizona and beyond. He also worked with his son to build a residential subdivision in Pima, Arizona. He was a trusted friend for whom many would stop what they were doing to return a kind act as he had already done for them. Countless people have said, “I love your dad.”

He was cherished in his community and known for giving horseback rides to children for so many years that those children grew up and brought their own kids to get a ride. He was a scout leader, a 4-H leader, and a priesthood leader. He loved Don Williams and the Beatles. He loved country dancing. He loved the outdoors. He loved hunting. When he was a boy, his mother would check his pockets for lizards, snakes, and frogs. This continued. He loved wildlife, deer and elk and bear, but also was in a habit of bringing home critters of all kinds to our living room: baby javelina, a fox, an iguana, snakes, birds, and lizards of all kinds, and many others. He was an avid beekeeper, a leather worker, and a rattlesnake hunter. He grew rabbits and chickens, turkeys, sheep, and steers. He loved to garden and grew the best tomatoes. He loved his dogs, his favorites Buckshot, Scotch, and Lady. He loved his friends at Gila Pueblo Community College where he joined them in making jewelry, what became a lifechanging pastime—and it should be noted that he did not accept money for jewelry he made; he gave hundreds of pieces to family and to others who needed an uplift. He loved to laugh and would often say: “That’s so cool!” But most of all, he loved his family. He loved family reunions. He lived for reunions. And he would say often that his children are his greatest treasure, for indeed that is where his heart has always been.

He is preceded by his parents, Claude Albert Taylor and Genevive Wadsworth Taylor, as well as his sisters Linda Taylor and Claudia Taylor Zweifel. He is survived by siblings Deonna, Sandra, Glenna, Peggy, Susan, Paula, Clinton, Karen, and Lavon.

He is also survived by his children Brian, Shawn, Brett, Shelley, Daniel, and Clinton—and many beloved grandchildren. He had a strong testimony of his Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a grateful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He gave without the thought of giving. He appreciated life and was grateful for his blessings. You are right, Dad: “That’s so cool.” Our hearts ache, but we have learned from you how to live our lives. We love you so very much and look forward to the day we see you again.

Funeral Services are to be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 4247 E Broadway, Claypool, AZ 85532, with a viewing at 9AM and main service at 10AM. Interment will be at (approximately) 3PM at the Show Low, AZ Cemetery.