Bruce TAYLOR

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TAYLOR: In the early evening of March 26, 2014 at the Palliative Care Unit of the Brandon Regional Health Centre, with his wife Frieda holding his hand, Bruce Wesley Taylor left us. Bruce was born August 8, 1927 in Virden. He was welcomed by his parents Dorothy and Harold Taylor and siblings, Marjorie, Ross and Dona. Bruce proved to be a curious child, some might even say mischievous and he found his siblings willing accomplices in many of his adventures, as was he in theirs. Bruce spent nine years attending Virden Schools and then attended St. John's College for two years. After spending three years in Winnipeg while his dad was in the forces, he returned to Virden for two years and helped at the family business, Taylor Lumber. Following this, he went to British Columbia to learn the lumber business. Bruce returned to Virden and spent several years in the oil industry. As the family run lumber business grew, he returned to help. Taylor Lumber was sold to Beaver Lumber in the early 1970's. Bruce then drove a school bus for twenty-four years for the Fort La Bosse School Division. Along with his son, Allan, they delivered the High School Driver Training Program for several years. During these years, Bruce was a long-time member of Virden's Volunteer Ambulance. Bruce married Frieda Alder in September of 1949. They raised two sons, Allan Ross and Harold Lloyd. Their home was a gathering place and sometimes home throughout their marriage for family, friends, a few boarders, aging parents, exchange students, grandchildren, great grandchildren and grand puppies. In summer months, Bruce and Frieda enjoyed staying at the family cottage at Oak Lake Beach and traveling to see new places, visiting friends and family along the way. Bruce learned to scuba dive and enjoyed diving with his sons at Child's Lake, accompanied by Bob Whiteford and Gil Chacun, long-time family friends. Bruce, Allan and Lloyd scuba dived in Hawaii, on a family vacation. He was an avid curler and golfer for many years. Bruce was very involved in Lions, being a Charter member of the Virden Lions Club, and one of the founding members of the Lions Eye Bank of Winnipeg. He became a member of the Brandon Lions Club when they moved to Brandon to reside in Lions Manor in 1995. Bruce received several awards for his work with the Lions clubs. The Stew Peever Award and the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for dedicated Humanitarian Services from Lions International were two he highly valued. Bruce was a member of Virden's St. Paul's United Church later transferring to Knox United Church in Brandon. He was also an associate member of the Virden Royal Canadian Legion. Above all else, Bruce enjoyed staying involved with family and friends, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by Frieda, his wife of sixty-four and a half years: son Lloyd and wife Val; granddaughter Tammy, her husband Mark Lambert and great grandchildren Tiffany, Brooklyn and Kristy Kehler; daughter-in-law Maxine Morgan; grandson Sean Taylor, his wife Sheri and great grandchildren Shea, Sharley, Shael and Shalen Taylor; grandson Bryan Taylor; grandson Darcy Taylor and Alexandrea Demianyk; sister Dona McBain and sisters-in-law Doris Taylor and Nell Bird, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Bruce was predeceased by his parents, son Allan, sister Marjorie and her husband Charlie McLean, brother Ross Taylor, Frieda's parents, Ernest and Bertha Alder and in-laws Ed and Margaret Alder, Irwin and Evelyn Alder, Ernest Alder, Hilda and Bert Curry, Alma and Russ Cooper, Harold Code and John Bird. Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in memory of Bruce may be made to the Lions Eye Bank and Foundation of Manitoba, 320 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2W6. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 204-727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 05, 2014