February 8th, 1938 in Bear River, Nova Scotia, Dr. Lovette and midwife Mary Scott, delivered a premature 1.5 pound baby boy, Lionel Lovett Riley, son of 18 year old Vera Marie Riley. She wasn't able to keep him nor were any of the Riley clan so they went to Roy & Cora Taylor's home in Greenland, Annapolis County where he was welcomed into their family. His incubator was a shoe box on the oven door until he was healthy enough for a cradle. God bless them for opening their hearts to give this little fellow life and a wonderful home.
Lionel had two older siblings, Lawrence & Marjorie and five foster siblings, Phillip & Jeffrey Boudreau, Barb & Joy Mailman and Dougie Hayes. Although he was very much a part of the family and knew Cora & Roy as mom and dad, he was Lionel Riley until they adopted him at the age of 19.
During his 12th year, he was paralyzed from the waist down for almost a year, possibly from polio. Roy carried him up and down the stairs, morning and night so Cora could look after him during the day. He didn't fall behind in school because his teacher, Judy Mcilwaine was boarding with them and she'd help him with his studies.
Even as a youngster, he loved to make people laugh. He learned to play the guitar and sing at an early age and spent countless hours sharing his talents throughout his life. While growing up, he spent time with Orin Peck, Teddy Long, Teddy Morgan, and Willard Peck.
On September 21, 1957 Lionel married Marjorie Evelyn Davis at the Baptist Parsonage in Bear River, NS and they spent 46 happy years together until her death in 2003. Favorite past times were family gatherings, outings at the Upper Clements Picnic Park, Mavilette Beach and Kedji. Together, they raised 7 children - 2 sons Reginald and Lionel Junior and 5 daughters, Sharon, Valerie, Marilyn, Crystal and Holly. They were blessed with 10 grandchildren - Jennifer, Reggie, Tammy, Amber, Marina, Shana, Cody, Justin, Marcus and Josh; and 3 great grandchildren Liam, Alex and Josie.
Lionel was sociable, straightforward and direct; everyone knew that what they saw was what they got. It wasn't uncommon to hear “Lionel never changes.” He enjoyed being on the bowling and curling team when he was a member of the Lion's Club and watching those sports on TV as well as wrestling and boxing. He was a stickler for dates and kept notes on anything he felt was important, He was very organized and never forgot to send cards for special occasions, often delivering by hand.
Lionel was employed for 6 years with the Lincolin Pulp company, 6 years in the kitchen at Cornwallis, 1 year driving bus for the Digby school & 22 years for Middleton Vocational, 12 years for the Digby Town Works and a couple of years for Canadian Tire until he retired in 2004. When he was hired to do a job, he did it well. Even now, years later his students remember how he impacted their lives and how much they learned from him.
He was a strong believer in God and a member of the Digby Baptist Church for 47 years. His way of helping was driving the church bus, and singing at numerous churches and benefits. He loved to make people laugh regardless of whether it was in a group or one-on-one. Entertaining, playing the guitar, singing, fishing, and hunting were some of the things he enjoyed. In his later years he spent many hours listening to music or watching his DVDs and socializing at Tim's, Sobeys and the mall,
Lionel's death occurred within 3 weeks of being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer which had spread to his stomach, liver and lungs, He passed away on March 13, 2019 at Reg and Alma's home in Brighton, NS. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as his fiance, Thelma Higgins and her family. Celebration of Life was held at Jayne's Funeral Home followed by a small family service. Lionel was laid to rest in Bayview Cemetery, Digby, NS
Memories from family
SHARON:
Moments in Time - so many moments in time; Dad had the roar of a lion and the heart of a pussy cat! He loved his family, extended family and friends and all those who came into his life. All of us who knew him loved to hear him sing and play his guitar. He loved entertaining and hamming it up on stage and in everyday life! Our home was never dull! He loved to make people laugh. You never knew what he was going to do. Dad and mom took us on outings; to the park for picnics, and of course fishing. On one of our many fishing trips dad helped me find leaves, acorns and pine cones for a school project. When we got home mom got the encyclopedia out and they helped me find every leaf and description so my project would be done by the end of the week!
Memories of oatmeal cooking and tea steeping early in the morning before he left for work, so we would have a hearty breakfast before heading out to school. Evenings he would play the guitar with all of us together in the living room, and huge family Christmas’s. Making us his tasty dressing for the turkey for Christmas dinner.
Dad and Mom made sure our family had and have respect for our elders and strong family bonds. We loved and still love each other through all our differences. They allowed us the freedom to grow and become the people we were meant to be. When we need each other; we are always there for each other!
One of my most treasured memories are our father/daughter phone calls for the past 15 years! Always living away from home, we would only get home about every 3 years. Since my mom's passing I have worried about my dad being on his own. Mostly when he lived on Lighthouse Road! I felt better when he moved into town! He always assured me during our phone calls that he was doing great! Sunday nights from 8:30 to 9:30 we would chat about his week, all the things going on in the family, how he was feeling or not feeling, and the people in his life! Friends or family that had passed. Concerns over family and their health. We always chatted about Thelma and her family and how they were doing. He so loved Thelma and her family as his own! They have become a very big part of our lives! I and we all could not have asked for a sweeter angel than Thelma to be sent to our dad! Their life together has been awesome, they made each other so happy! I know she was his reason for getting up in the morning and being with us as long as he was! She has always been there for us when we needed her. Always letting Reg know when something was wrong with dad! He was a stubborn one! I have thanked her many times for being a part of our dad’s life. I truly hope she and her family remain a large part of our family and our family outings! I love you dad! Always and forever throughout eternity! Sharon
ANDY:
Lionel was a great conversationalist; he was passionate about the topic in discussion and would always give you his honest opinion. Whenever he was speaking about his children, you could see the love he had for them in his eyes and if you listened very closely, you could also hear it in his voice. Lionel made our family world a little more interesting, and certainly entertaining - he will be dearly missed. Andrew McKenzie
REG:
A hero is someone you think wears a cape, or tights, or mask, leaps over tall buildings or saves a damsel in distress. But this is not always true. I know one hero that hasn't done any of those things. He may have put on the odd wig or dress and got on a stage to entertain, which he was the best at. This hero I'm talking about is my Dad, Lionel Taylor. He loved life, his family, his fiance and her family. If he could catch your eye or ear, he would run with that and then he was on a roll. He was in his glory; as an amateur entertainer, he was the greatest of all times. This is my hero, my Dad, Lionel Taylor. Love you always, your eldest son, Reg
ALMA:
I'll always remember Lionel as being a one-of-a-kind guy with a very big heart. It didn't take much to make him happy and he was a true example of taking pleasure in the simple things - time with family and friends, listening to his music and watching his DVDs (including taking a nap or two) were among his favorite things to do. I couldn't have asked for a better father-in-law and I feel blessed that he spent his last days at our home. Although it was heart wrenching watching him get weaker each day, taking care of him was easy because he made it that way. Sitting on his bed, rubbing his arm, having a quiet chat or making sure he was warm enough; those 'little things' probably wouldn't have happened if we hadn't had the privilege of taking care of him here. He'll forever be close to my heart. Alma
JENNIFER:
There are so many things I could say about my grandfather, Lionel Taylor. If there was ever one man that I thought could fool death, it was him. So full of life and energy, love and laughter. I remember so many childhood memories at Nanny and Puppy's house. Riding the yellow banana bike, playing outside, riding on the school bus, watching wrestling, Hee-Haw, and The Tommy Hunter Show. And I can’t forget the guitar jamming. One of my favorite entertainers of all times. An amazing man, gone but never forgotten.
The following poem speaks about the importance of living life to the fullest. I've included it here in honor of Puppy because his dash reminds me of laughter which there was always sooooo much of. Love you forever Puppy, Jennifer .
The Dash by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came her date of her birth and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard. are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
Be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?
LIAM:
I remember when we used to go to their house back in the woods. It was fun playing on the swings, riding bikes and being with family. We would play tag, hide'n'seek, all those fun games. Puppy was always being funny, and would be playing his guitar with Uncle Junior and Grampy. It was good times, and always funny memories with Puppy. Love you lots. Liam
REGGIE:
My memories of Grampy Taylor are about loving, laughing, joking and having a good time. Helping out whenever you can. And of course, music. He introduced me to country bluegrass, card games and hot dogs as a pizza topping. Enjoying watching my dad and him entertain people. He taught me to shuffle a deck of cards and play cribbage. I’ll always remember the big yellow bus and watching the tower disappear when we’d visit. He loved, and was well loved, the best Grampy a grandchild could dream of. Reggie
ALEX:
Puppy was a wonderful guy, always trying to make you smile. I wish I would have known him better! Even though we didn't see each other much, he never forgot my birthday. Love you Puppy. Alex
JOSIE:
Although I didn't see Puppy a lot, I loved him and cared about him very much. He always sent birthday & Christmas cards. He always had a smile for me. Love you, Josie
MARILYN:
One memory was making dad proud after cooking Kraft Dinner - until making a mess with the cheese. Then I learned to clean the stove. Thanks for two of the many lessons learned. For ever and always, Marilyn
ARNOLD:
I remember all the crib games played with Lionel. My best hand was winning his daughter as my wife. Miss you, Feller.
SHANA & MARINA:
We were at a family gathering and Puppy approached me (Shana) by tapping my arm. He told me that he sang a song called The Tennessee Wig Walk that reminded him of Marina. At all of our gatherings after that, Puppy and I sang that to her. Hope you're singing it on the other side. Love, Shana & Marina
MELANIE:
Because of you, I have a husband who was raised right, who loves and respects me and always makes me laugh. Because of you, I have two sons who had the world’s greatest Papa, and they both hold you up in the highest regard. Because of you, I was blessed with the best father-in-law a girl could ever ask for, and I will forever be grateful. Because of you, I have a heart full of wonderful memories that will last until I see you again. Forever you will be loved and missed...because of you. ❤️❤️ Melanie
HOLLY:
There are so many memories I have with you, so I will only pick two. The first one being when I was very young. You decided to have a mid-evening snack and cooked up a chicken potpie. It was near my bedtime so I could not have one but I wanted some of yours. You told me that if I could stick my little finger in it and hold it there for one minute, I could have half of your pie. I thought it would be no problem, so I stuck my little finger in that chicken pot pie (on the outer edge) and I was doing really good. I was getting so excited that I was going to beat you at your own game and you’d have to share that pot pie with me. We were counting down the seconds on the clock and it was getting close. Then you, with all your wisdom moved the foil pan, which placed my baby finger right in the middle of that pie where all the heat was. It was mere seconds before the minute was up, I lost that bet to have only a lick of your chicken pot pie, and that lick was the gravy that was on my now burning baby finger. Because I thought the outer edge was cool enough, I also thought that the entire pie was the same temperature. Thank you Dad, for teaching me that not everything is always as it seems and that sometimes people get so caught up in wanting something so bad, that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
My second memory is the time that you, Mom and I went blueberry picking out in Bear River. I was doing good and had my ice cream bucket nearly half-full, if not more. I was proud of myself for not eating more berries than I was picking and I think Mom was happy about that too. You asked me if I liked cherries, and of course, I did. You told me there was a cherry tree over by you so I stopped picking and ran for the cherries. They looked so juicy and I could not wait to bite into one. You passed me 2 or 3 and being as eager as I was, I stuffed them all in my mouth. They were so much worse than any lemon, or anything else! Instantly my face puckered and my mouth dried out; not one lick of spit, my tongue felt like a cats tongue, even to just rub it against the roof of my mouth, it felt like I had steel wool in there, so sour, I thought I’d never recover from that. I finally had to eat half the blueberries I picked to get some sort of normalcy in my mouth. I asked you what they were and you, still wiping the tears from your eyes from laughing so hard, and mom half-ugly at me because I just ate nearly half the berries...said...those are choke cherries. You said that Grampy Taylor did the same to you when you were a young boy and you learned to never eat them again, and you always learned to never take anything at face value because there is always something deeper, something more to everything.
Thank you Dad, for teaching me two of the most valuable lessons that have gotten me through so much over the last 47 years. Miss you so much and love you to the moon and back. You may be gone from this world, but you will forever be right here in my heart! Holly
ROGER:
I had many laughs with you over the last 9 years. However, I knew you long before I knew your daughter. When I was 15, I was in the Cadets at CFB Cornwallis. I was from Ashmore, so you always picked me up in front of Manzer’s store. My brother, cousin and myself got on at that stop. Those trips with you were so memorable. You had the kindest heart, I remember you always either had the radio on for us, sometimes you’d sing for us, while other times, you’d have the radio on and sing along with whatever song was playing. You never failed to ask us how we were and we could tell it wasn’t just chit chat, but that you genuinely cared about each and every student that you hauled on your bus. I have gotten to know you more over the last nine years being with your daughter. You graciously accepted me and truly made me feel like I was part of your family. When we would come to visit, we often talked about the Cadet days and shared funny stories about the Officers we both knew, and it was great to just sit and reminisce. I will miss the opportunities to learn more from your stories and I will truly miss your laugh. Gone but never forgotten. Love you Pappy!
CODY:
This song always made me think of you Pup. Always loved and missed but never forgotten. Cody
Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days) The Judds
Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like this world's gone crazy
And Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy.
Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other, come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say and then forget
Did families really bow their heads to pray
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Grandpa, everything is changing fast
We call it progress, but I just don't know.
And Grandpa, let's wander back into the past
And paint me the picture of long ago.
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
THELMA:
Death changes everything, time changes nothing,
I still miss the sound of your voice
The wisdom in your advice
The stories of your life
And just being in your presence.
So, no, time changes nothing.
I miss you as much today as the day you died;
I miss you Lionel. Thelma
KELLY::
Lionel ... The man who showed our mother the way a woman should be treated.
Made her realize her self worth and brought back the sparkle to her eyes.
Lionel ... The man who accepted and treated her grown children with kindness and love.
Lionel ... The man who made us laugh and showed us love, will be missed.
Lionel ... The man ... our Dad. Love Kelly
SHERRY:
April 6th was a tough day as we said our goodbyes to one of the most amazing men I have ever known. We were lucky to grow up having a father but I lost my dad at a younger age and was very fortunate to have Lionel take on the roll of fatherhood. To take on 3 grown children takes a good man! He was there every step of the way, through good and bad times and never complained once. As for my mom she never knew such a great life. Lionel always said “I don’t have much just me” but to her kids, he gave her the world!! We are forever grateful! She says ”Lionel made me feel like somebody.” The following poem reflects my love for him.
Real Dad
Some people would say you're not my real Dad
but I know for sure this isn't true.
For you've been a real Dad to me
in all the things we've been through.
We've had our ups and downs
sometimes it's hard to bend.
But you've always been there when I needed you
And that's what matters in the end.
You've been patient, kind and firm
over the years as I've grown
and I'm eternally grateful to you
because you've treated me as your own.
For though we're not tied by bloodlines
the love and trust you've given me
is a precious gift, day after day.
That's what counts as a REAL Dad to me.
RIP Lionel Taylor “My Dad” Love from Sherry
OLIVIA:
Lionel always made sure to have a supply of sugar donuts, coffee ice cream and apples for my visits because he knew I'd be searching for snacks everyday after school. He was the best entertainer, always playing guitar and singing songs for me and my Nan. There isn't enough thank yous in the world to thank him for all the times he was there to pick me up and take me where I needed to go, winter or summer and for all the things he did for me. Lionel had the best soul and truly impacted everyone's life who knew him. God sent my family a living angel when he met my Nan, and we'll forever cherish our memories and love with him. xoxo Olivia
* * * * * * * * * *
Lionel Taylor (Butterfly,) age 81 of Digby, NS passed away peacefully on March 13, 2019 at the home of Reg & Alma Taylor.
His last hours were spent with laughter and love, surrounded by a number of friends and family. Born in Bear River, he was the son of the late Reginald and Cora (Mailing) Tayler. Lionel was a member of the Digby Baptist Church for over 44 years and a member of the choir. He was a bus driver for the Middleton Vocational School for 21 years and was part of the Town Works Department for the Town of Digby for 12+ years. Lionel enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He loved playing music and entertaining; he has played at many benefits to help others. Lionel was always laughing and joking; he truly enjoyed life and loved his family.
He is survived by fiancé, Thelma Higgins; daughters, Sharon (Andrew) McKenzie, Valerie (Carl) Smith, Marilyn (Arnold) Doty, Crystal (Herbert) Deveau, Holly (Roger) O’Neil; sons, Reginald (Alma Deveau) Taylor, Jr (Melanie Elderkin) Taylor; 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his wife Marjorie Evelyn (Davis) Taylor of 46 years; sister, Marjorie Isles; and brother, Lawrence Taylor.
Cremation has taken place under the care of Jayne’s Funeral Home Digby 902-245-2525. Stop by Saturday April 6th, between 1-3pm to mingle with the family and help them as they celebrate Lionel’s life; refreshments provided. Donation in Lionel’s name can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society. A special thank you to Palliative Care, Digby/Clare Home Support, John and Jeremy from Saulnierville PhamaChoice, EHS and the staff at Digby & Yarmouth Hospitals. Gone but not forgotten. View the full obituary and memorial page, leave condolences at www.jaynesfuneralhome.com
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