You might have seen him May 2017 in the Rhody Run, well ironically the half Rhody, first time ever offered. He was the one with the walker, fighting every step towards the “finish line,” but still not accepting any help. He was going to do it one last time on his own! Strength and determination are two words that best describe Nicholas Dale Taylor. Health, fitness, and well-being came only after his strong faith and his family.
Nick was born in Brewster, WA on September 12, 1952 to Bobby G. & Maggie L. Taylor. He attended grade school at Pateros and also in Minneapolis, MN, where the family lived for a short time. They came back to Washington, where he finished up grade school in Quincy. While living in Quincy, at 10 years old, Nick had his first of many jobs: a paper route. The family then moved to Chelan where he started high school and the track team! With both parents working, Nick played the “older brother roll,” and would take his younger brother David and younger sister Cindy down to the lake to swim almost every sunny afternoon. The family then moved to Port Townsend, where Nick continued track and joined the football team. Nick graduated from P.T. High School in 1971. He was happy and proud to be a Redskin; he had “Redskin Pride!”
After graduating, with the help of close friend and cousin, Tim, he bought a VW bus to take a year to “find himself.” This landed him in Roseburg, OR at his aunt and uncle’s, and a job at the Lumber Mill. He soon realized the lumber industry was not for him! Upon returning to P.T., Nick married his first wife, Nora Oleson of Port Townsend, though their marriage was short. He worked at Crown Zellerback for a stint, then moved to Seattle for schooling at Shoreline, and landed a job at Todd Shipyard/Lockheed. This entered him into the electrician field that he very much enjoyed.
With the purchase of his home on Marrowstone Island, Nick returned to help his mom and step-dad run the family farm. After about 4 years managing Carl H Johnson Clam & Oysters, he met and married the love of his life, Cathy Poe of Port Townsend, on June 1, 1991. He and Cathy’s family grew with the births of their sons Ryan and Justin. Nick started at P.T. Paper, shortly after marrying Cathy, where he worked as an electrician until early retirement due to a diagnosis of ALS.
Nick was very active until this disease robbed him of his activities. He loved physical exercise, he built a full workout room in his shop, where he and his son Ryan would regularly workout. In earlier years, Nick would upland bird hunt, run, downhill ski, Jet Ski, golf, and every once in a while water ski on Lake Chelan! Lake Chelan became a favorite getaway spot for Nick and his family’s vacations.
Outside of being talked into a glass of fine scotch and an occasional cigar, Nick was the healthiest man I knew. Nick would try anything! He was always up to lend his son Justin a hand on his Firebird or Toyota, or to help his son Ryan wire a new stereo system component. Nick enjoyed the chance to help coach little league baseball and some of the other sports his boys were involved in growing up.
Nick was an excellent craftsman who completely changed his little cabin into a beautiful craftsman style home as his family grew. From a custom bedroom and bathroom, big decks to watch the sunset on, he’d move a wall, enclose the deck to make a family room, doing it all himself until later years. Just unbelievable! Nick was a perfectionist in everything he did, from his hand-laid brick sidewalks, deep frying turkeys on Thanksgiving to building his wife’s raised garden beds and walking paths.
Nick was a great brother, awesome father, wonderful husband. He was an absolute favorite uncle who was always up for a “frog hunt,” or to practice soccer, or throw and catch a baseball or football. Even suffering from this terrible disease, Nick’s outlook on life still amazes me. His strong faith and relationship with God continued to put a smile on his face each and every day. His love and compassion for his family was second to none! We all love and miss you so much, Nick.
Nick was preceded in death by his daughter (infant) Lydia Lee Taylor, his parents, his brother David, nephew (infant) Waylon Jacob Johnson.
Nick is survived by his wife Cathy; sons Ryan and Justin (Bailey) of Nordland, WA; sister Cindy (Bill) Gadbaw and their son Charlie, daughters Charity, Krystal & Karyssa of Poulsbo, WA; brother Jacob (Kristen) Johnson and their daughter Rylee and sons Hank and Seth of Nordland, WA; nephew Josh (Shelby) Morris and their son Tristan of Hawaii, and Nephew Joe Morris of Napavine, WA; and many great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 14 at 1:00pm at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jefferson County Food Bank.
