Thomas "TS" Stewart Taylor

In Loving Memory of
Thomas Stewart “T.S.” Taylor
age 97
beloved husband of the late Helen Taylor 
dad to Mark (Brenda) & Jo-Lene (Keith)

Died Peacefully 
August 9, 2018
Prairie View Lodge
Pilot Mound, Manitoba

Memorial Service
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Rock Lake Pastoral Charge 
United Church 
Crystal City, Manitoba
2:30 p.m.
 

Refreshments will be held at the Kin Hall in Pilot Mound immediately following the service.

Private Interment ~ Mather Cemetery

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the 
Canadian Diabetes Association; 
401-1 Wesley Ave Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6,
or to Canadian Legion 
Manitoba/Northwest Ontario Command;
563 St. Mary’s Rd Winnipeg, MB R2M 3L6.

Thomas Stewart Taylor (T.S.): 

Dec 4, 1920 – August 9th, 2018

Dad (T.S.) passed away quietly on August 9th, 2018 at Prairie View Lodge in Pilot Mound, MB. Dad lived a full life of 97 years.

Born on the family farm near Mather, MB, Dad was the youngest of five children born to Thomas and Beatrice Taylor (Orr). Older siblings were Bill and Kay; triplet sister Julia and triplet brother Robert, completed the family.   The story is told that the triplets were premature; Dad weighed in at 2 lbs and was tongue tied!  The threesome were apparently put in shoe boxes filled with cotton batting and placed on the door of the oven to stay warm, with brandy administered through an eye dropper as needed!

Following the death of his father, Thomas H. Taylor, Dad’s mother Beatrice married Charles Sando and moved to Crystal City, adding two wonderful step sisters, Gladys and Marge to the family.   Dad had many fond memories of growing up, going to school, and playing baseball and hockey in Crystal City.

Dad tried to join the Royal Canadian Air Force at the beginning of WW2, but was rejected due to his weight. He was told to go home and gain a few pounds!  He apparently returned to the farm and drank cream to get his weight up to 120 lbs, so he could enlist.  This strategy worked - he gained the weight and made the cut.  With the RCAF, he was a wireless air gunner, and used to tell the story of “keeping the ring of steel around Prince Rupert”.  He ended his RCAF career with the rank of Training Officer- out ranking both of his brothers, something he used to remind them of!

After the war, Dad returned to Mather to farm in the summer. He would spend winters working in Winnipeg.  He lived in a boarding house on Toronto St., and employment included delivering heating fuel and working at Swift Packers.

An air force buddy who worked for the telephone system introduced Dad to Helen Merle Henry, who was working as a telephone operator.  Tom and Helen were married in 1952 and had 39 wonderful years together.

Dad farmed pretty well his whole life, even while living in Crystal City as a boy. He would reminisce about walking to Uncle Clarkie’s to help at the Orrs.  His favorite topic was farming and questions about cattle, harvest, bales and the weather.  In his later years his interest changed a “wee” bit, and many conversations were around golf and getting to the course to play a round.

In 2007, Dad made the big move off the family farm to Pilot Mound, living in an apartment in the Monterey Block.  Dad was a bit apprehensive about the move, but he was not shy and soon he found himself pushing a broom at the Millennium Complex construction site, becoming one of the “broom boys”.  He lived eleven years in Pilot Mound and enjoyed every one of them.

Dad was a very active community member wherever he lived. He took great pride in Mather and the arena the community built there.  The “Big Centennial Bonspiel” was one of his fondest memories.  He coached hockey for a number of years and had many stars on his teams. We are pretty sure all the team players had a special nick name given to them by “T.S.”

Dad was an active member of the Cartwright Legion (Branch 86) from 1945 to the end.  

Dad leaves a beautiful legacy of two children and their families:  Son Mark and Brenda (Potter); Owen and Teauna (Boyd), Kinley, Macey, Scarlett and Arwen; Sheena and Devonn.

Daughter Jo-Lene and Keith Gardiner; Graham and Crystal (Marlin); Ashton, Mason, Madden, Ella; Sheldon; Claire and Willis McKay, Parker, Karson and Nate; Joseph and Melaine Matsyk; Haley and Scott McIntosh, and Ben.  His greatest joy was family: his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was very proud of them all. 

We would like to thank those who helped care and support Dad in his last few years - all the home care workers, his caregivers in the Pilot Mound Lodge, and the nurses and doctors at the Rock Lake Hospital.  Special thanks for the rides to men’s night golf by Don and Bill, the rides to hockey games from Phil and the rides to Legion with Marlene and Bert and Gladys.

Dad was predeceased by our mother who died in 1991 and by all his siblings: Gladys, Marge, Bill, Kay, Robert and Julia. 

Dad had a great life and we feel fortunate to celebrate that.

In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association;

401-1 Wesley Ave Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6, or to Canadian Legion Manitoba/Northwest Ontario Command; 563 St. Mary’s Rd Winnipeg, MB R2M 3L6.

http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/1006:thomas-stuart-taylor

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