Howard E. Taylor

Howard E. Taylor, who he used to tell everyone was 92 ½, when he passed away peacefully at home. He joined his wife, Dolores, in heaven. Home was always where he wanted to be.

Howard was born February 18, 1930, in Missoula to Ernest and Lorene Taylor. He joined a family of 4 brothers and 2 sisters and welcomed 2 more sisters soon after. He played basketball and football during his school years, graduating from Missoula County High School in 1949. He tried valiantly to enlist in the military, as his 2 older brothers had, and was denied due to a previous surgery and a history of mumps He was disappointed. However, he joked later that they had many going away parties for him and he just kept coming back!

He met Dolores (Dee) Piccinini and they were married on March 10, 1951. They welcomed a son, John, in 1959 and adopted a daughter, Gina, in 1963. They enjoyed camping, fishing, family, and friends. They came to live on Rainbow Drive in Missoula. He loved living there. It is a block of strong, fun families that have had many epic block parties. A special Thank You to Jack Yeakel and Terrel Armstrong, neighbors that provided so much support, love and endless snow shoveling!

He worked at various jobs during his life, furniture moving with his dad and telegraph operator for the railroad to name a couple. Soon, he came to know and love being an electrician and became a Journeyman Electrician. His specialty was commercial building work but was ALWAYS happy to help friends and family with wiring those damn 3-way switches! He worked on many commercial projects in and around Missoula, the state, and as far away as New York. He was a member of the IBEW and was faithful to that union for his career. He was able to enjoy a wonderful retirement as a benefit.

In January 2009 his wife passed away at home. His heart felt forever lost and broken. Soon, God gave him a person who came to be his trusted confidante and companion, Shirley Hudson of Helena. She re-ignited his passion for life. They both enjoyed traveling, live entertainment, plays, and music. They shared a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mexico seeing beaches and Mayan ruins. Howard talked many times about this trip and the friendships that they made. A fellow traveler gave them a CD of the trip and he watched it many, many times. Our family wishes to thank Shirley for her undying affection and love for him. The joy she brought to him, and all simply cannot be measured.

He is survived by John Taylor, Elmo; Gina (Tim) Landon, Kalispell; grandchildren Marshall (Carly) Taylor, Kalispell; Murray (Levi) Hughes, Alberton; and two of the cutest great-grandchildren EVER; a sister Faye Gordon, Bristow, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews. His family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Gale and John English, Don and Linda Fristo who are local family that helped so generously.
Howard was a special man to his family and all people that he met. His sense of humor via letters and jokes will be cherished and missed profoundly.

A Celebration of Life/Reception will follow soon, and these arrangements can be found on Garden City Funeral Home webpage. If you have pictures that you would like the family to share of Howard, please text them to toby@missoulafuneralhomes.com, and we can add them to his notice on the Garden City Funeral Home site.