Ronald Jesse Taylor

Ronald Jesse Taylor, 73, passed away May 24, 2021 at his home in Nephi. Ron was born December 20, 1947 in Payson, Utah to Jesse and Lucille Taylor of Bakersfield, California. His father passed away shortly before Ron was born so his mother moved back to Levan to be with her parents. He lived in Levan, Utah with his mother and grandparents James Orlando & Florene Taylor for six years before moving to Arvin, California with his mother. They later moved to Greenfield, California. Ron attended school in Arvin, Greenfield, and his first two years of high school in Bakersfield, California. He later moved back to Utah with his mother and graduated high school from Juab High.

While in California he was active in Boy Scouts, Little League baseball and was a member of the track team at South High School in Bakersfield. At Juab Ron was active in all sports and held the school record for the 100-yd dash for 10 years after graduating in 1966. It seems Ron was always into traveling fast and was known for having one of the nicest, fastest cars in town for several years.

On August 17, 1968 Ronald married Elizabeth (Beth) Fern Stephenson in Nephi, Utah. They have three sons; Robert Jesse of Nephi, Kevin Ronald, and Scott Michael Taylor of Salem, Utah.

In April of 1969 Ron was inducted into the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. He served as a helicopter mechanic during the war and was honorably discharged in March of 1971. After his discharge he worked with his grandfather at his Texaco service station in Levan until the business was closed. He then worked as a mechanic at Nephi Rubber Plant and at Painter Motors before taking a job at the Intermountain Power Project near Delta where he would work for several years before retiring.

Ron loved cars; driving them, working on them, or cleaning them. He was always very mechanically inclined and was known for his mechanical mind and skills. It seemed that there was nothing he couldn't fix. He loved his family and was always ready for a good bar-b-que or family party.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Jesse Willard and Lucille Taylor, his step-father Donald Finley, and his grandson Kaden Kevin Taylor.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth of Nephi, and his three sons Robert Jesse (Tiffany) of Nephi, Kevin Ronald (Julie) of Salem, and Scott Michael (Kelly) also of Salem, Utah, five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters who will all miss him dearly.

Graveside services will be held May 28th, 2021 at the Nephi City Cemetery at 11:00 am.