Dennis Taylor

Dennis Leon Taylor
December 23, 1952-January 19, 2025

Dennis Leon Taylor (72), died Sunday, January 19, 2025. He was born December 23, 1952 at Camp Atterbury, Franklin, Indiana, the son of Joseph David Taylor and Alice Ann Nelson Taylor, while his father was in the military. His early years were spent in several small towns in Arizona, including Tucson, Wilcox, Pomerene and St. David, until the family moved to Barstow, California when he was a teenager in 1968. In 1977, his family moved to Honeyville, Utah, where he lived for the majority of his life.

Dennis was born in a military hospital and had a keen interest in all things armed forces. He loved his army men. He had an amazing mind and could tell you anything about America’s wars, generals, planes, etc., from memory. He was an avid reader and could spell any word he was asked to spell. He loved to play softball (and was good at it) and would attend every baseball and t-ball game at the park. He would bring his prized softball bats and extra mitts just in case a child didn’t have one. He loved to go to his nephews’ games.

Many Honeyville residents knew Dennis from his long walks every single day. Many of his friends took special care to make sure that he was safe and understood by those who had not yet met Dennis. He was a friend to all. Throughout his life he attended every ward in Honeyville, whether it was his or not. Every dinner or event at the church, Dennis would go and visit with the people. There were many elderly in Honeyville for whom he would get their newspaper and take it to them. He would put their garbage out by the street and return it for them after it had been emptied. One resident told us how he had shown up just in the nick of time to help her with her husband who had fallen. His mother received Christmas cards for Dennis from people she didn’t know whom he had helped somehow.

We wish the windows of heaven could have opened for a brief moment to have been able to see the happy reunion between him and his mother who cared for him the majority of his life. The world was definitely made better by his simple life and influence on everyone he met. We want to give special thanks to those who cared for him so compassionately the last few years of his life, including his sister and her husband, Karen and Andrew Asay, and the staff at Mission at Alpine Rehabilitation Center.

Dennis is survived by his siblings Cathy (Joe) Martin, David (Cindy) Taylor, Sharon (Sam) Shimp, Karen (Andy) Asay, Kumen (Connie) Taylor, Rama (Dave) Cowley, Tom (Jamie) Taylor, Olive (Michael) Layton, and Earl (Michele) Taylor. He is also survived by 59 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Aaron Taylor, and his father and mother, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Saturday, January 25th, at 1:30 pm, at the Honeyville LDS church building. A viewing will be held 11:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday. before the services. Interment will be in the Honeyville cemetery.