A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the South Whidbey Assembly of God Church on Maxwelton Road, Langley.
Robert William Taylor was born in 1933, in Seattle. He died unexpectedly yet peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 26, near his home in Clinton, doing what he loved — walking on the beach and talking with His Lord. He was 82 years old.
He grew up in Seattle.
In his early 20s, he responded to the call from God to be a missionary in Mexico.
Robert was a missionary in Mexico for six years as a single man, then married Lois Ann Chapman and was on the field for 11 more years traveling all through Mexico with their five children until they moved up to Washington state to be close to his aging father.
He and his wife had an incredible love for God, their family and all those with whom they came to serve. Evangelistic services were a focal point of their ministry, sharing about the redemptive power of a personal relationship with Jesus. But they were also feeding children in the garbage dumps and aiding those in need wherever humanly possible.
Robert and Lois Ann’s five children all became truly sensitive to those in extreme poverty, both physically and spiritually.
To this day, all have a real heart for those who are hurting, in part because of what they were exposed to in their younger years. Robert’s legacy of ministering and helping others lives on through his children, who have incredible ministries of their own working to see people helped and set free in their own lives through a relationship with God, who desires for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him.
In 1976, the Taylor family moved to Whidbey Island.
Lois Ann Taylor preceded him in death in January 2003.
Robert sold real estate on Whidbey Island in those early years at Whidbey Reality in Freeland, and was instrumental in bringing most of Lois Ann’s family up from California.
He was also instrumental in helping his brother-in-law to found Rich’s for the Home, and worked there for over 20 years until his retirement.
After his retirement, he continued to spend his years investing time in others such as his grandchildren, community and various ministries.
He was then able to travel to Liberia with Mercy Ships and Orphan Relief and Rescue, to Ukraine with his daughter and son-in-law’s ministry, and to China.
He was a missionary at heart until the end of his days by always loving Jesus and loving others.
He is survived by his children, Deborah Buchanan, Robert S. Taylor, Rebecca Pratt, Daniel Taylor and Rachel McLarty; his grandchildren, Brianna Lomas, Desa’ree McDaniel, Joshua Pratt, Emily Williams, Madison Taylor, Savannah Taylor, Charlize Taylor, Caleb McLarty, Jayden McLarty and Justin McLarty; and great-granddaughters, Aubrie Trevino, Sophia and Skylee McDaniel.
Robert’s passion was to support the ministries that his children are running.
To honor his legacy, we ask that in lieu of flowers people send a donation to the ministry of your choice or to Calvary Chapel Port Angeles, P.O Box 537, Port Angeles, WA, 98362, or Orphan Relief and Rescue, 1416 SW 151st Street, Burien, WA, 98166.
