Michael Taylor

Michael Jerome Taylor was born in Seattle, Washington on November 23, 1959, to Joyce Gloria Taylor and Gordon Melvin Taylor. He was the fourth of nine children and his mom remembers the song, “My Favourite Things” playing in the hospital while he was being born.
The family moved to Vancouver shortly after Mike was born and Mike grew up here in Canada. He attended Begbie Annex School before the family moved to Port Moody where he continued school at Moody Elementary, Moody Middle and Moody Senior Secondary from which he graduated. Some of Mike’s fondest memories of high school were playing football and hanging around with his big gang of buddies.
After high school, Mike’s best friend Colin found him a job at Schenker Distribution, where Mike worked for over twenty years. Mike made lots of friends at Schenker, too, and worked as a charge hand there until the company closed in 2003.
After the company closed its doors, Mike reinvented himself, by turning a passionate hobby into a profession. Mike started his own company – Taylor Made Wood Creations Ltd. – and built beautiful furniture for discriminating customers throughout the Lower Mainland. He loved working with wood and was a self taught craftsman and a true artist who took great pride in his work and always pushed himself to do his best for his customers.
Mike was a devoted family man. He married Jean Kosar in 1992 and they welcomed their oldest son, Anthony, into the world in 1999, and their younger son, William, in 2002. Mike was a loving, supportive and generous partner to Jean and an enthusiastic, affectionate and admirable role model for his sons. He was always willing to offer his skills and his hard work and expertise to his immediate and extended family. He built sets for Jean’s plays and showed the boys how to hit a baseball, build a bird house and cook a delicious meal. He loved to watch his lads on the ice or the sports field and beamed with pride at all their accomplishments.
One of his favourite memories was the family trip to Disneyland in 2013. Mike loved his childhood memories of Disneyland and was enthusiastic to share his experiences with Jean and the boys. What a wonderful trip they had!
Sadly, in November of 2014, Mike was diagnosed with brain cancer and after a herculean struggle of six months, he succumbed to the disease on May 31, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Jean, his sons, Anthony and William, his mother, Joyce Berry, and father, Gordon Taylor, his brothers and sisters, Elizabeth (Bunny) Slinn, Catherine Colby, Daryle Taylor, Barbara Taylor, Beverley Munro, and Doug Taylor, sister-in-laws Richelle Kosar, Hope Taylor, Leeanne Taylor and many dear nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother, Greg, and his little sister, Sandra.
In lieu of flowers, please donate on Mike’s behalf to the Canadian Red Cross.