George Alfred Taylor

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for George Alfred Taylor, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

      George was born on June 16, 1941 at home in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He was the son of Horace and Violet Taylor. He was born in Kirkland Lake but moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario when he was two years old and that's where he was raised. He was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

      As a young boy, George was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, George was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if George was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, George also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. George was raised with five siblings. He had one older brother Bob, two younger brothers John and Bill, one older sister Shirley and a younger sister Judy. (Bob and John predeceased George). George was constantly involved in activities with his family. George and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

      Growing up, George was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. George was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, George was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. George took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in baseball and hockey. In his spare time he liked model airplanes, taxidermy, fishing and boating. George also had his picture taken for the Sault Star for catching a four pound plus speckled trout measuring 21 3/4" as a young boy.

      George enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. George was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, George was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. George enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was auto mechanics. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Shirley Stewart, because she was nice to him. Another teacher was a Mrs. Pace, I was told by his sister.

      Most folks would say that George was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. George was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, George best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, George kept. While growing up, some of his best friends were Tom Dukes, Richard Lake and Doreen Dukes. Later in life, he became friends with Pete Lazure, Rimas Gasperas, Bill Dukes, Dennis & Maureen Smith and Bill Hanes.

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for George. On May 20, 1961 George married Janet Herriman at First Baptist Church (corner of March & Albert St.) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He was totally committed to Janet and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if George naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although George disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      George was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, George was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, George was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. George was blessed with two children, two sons, Michael and Mark. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Zachary and Miranda. Janet 'Gramma' minded the children while Mark and Rose worked and the children entered school.

      If you gave George a deadline, he would meet it. At work, George was always on task. Without hesitation, George could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was a brick layer and stone mason. He was in business with his brother John. He was employed for over 40 years as a brick layer and forman and also worked for Ontario Hydro out of Thessalon for 10 years as a building mechanic. During that time, George excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. George was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, George had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      George liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced George's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, George preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were camping, fishing and hunting. George was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes. George, Jan and their boys helped carry the material into the camp on Meenach Lake where they enjoyed going to on weekends.

      While thorough and measured in his approach to things, George often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were hockey and soccer.

      Due to his excellent organizational skills, George was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. George could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. George was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. Throughout his later years, George was an active member of the Bricklayers Union BAC Local 29.

      Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to George. He never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given him for his many and varied efforts throughout his life were well deserved. Some of his most prestigious awards included completing an apprenticeship in bricklaying. He was a very good stone mason and built and took pictures of the fireplaces he did.

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with George had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included his time at Meenach Lake where he enjoyed building his own camp and he spent many weekends.

      George had Susie a black lab and Candy a brown terrier, who was his best friend for 12 years. His family was rounded out by his a cat Pepper and two budgies. George was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

      When George's retirement finally arrived in 2005, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. In retirement, he found new pleasure in spending time at camp, walks, visiting family and his older son's wedding in Cenneticut, USA in 2006. Even in retirement, George continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

      George Alfred passed away on April 12, 2015 at Sault Area Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He suffered from alzheimers and cancer.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. George was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. George was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. George Taylor was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with George. He will be missed.

TAYLOR, George – Passed away peacefully with family at his side on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Sault Area Hospital, at the age of 73. Beloved husband and best friend of Janet (Herriman). Father of Mark (Rose) and Mike (Jen). Loved Poppa to his grandchildren Zachary and Miranda. Son of the late Horace and Violet. Brother of the late Robert (late Arlene), late John (late Kirsten), Shirley Kent (Don), Judy Taylor (Ron) and Bill (Aila). Son-in-law to the late Charlie and Twila. Brother-in-law to Beth Greer (Bill), Charlene O’Donnell (Tim), Lori Park (Stuart) and the late Jim. Uncle George to his many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his good friends Dennis and Maureen Smith, his good fishing buddy Bill Hanes and many family and friends. A Private Memorial Service was held at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 4 pm. Mr. Gene Monin officiated. Memorial contributions in George’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated. With heartfelt thanks to the caring and compassionate staff on 2C at the Sault Area Hospital. Also a special thank you to doctors: Allen, Mossing, BanMann and Nurse Practitioner Jenny Maugh for the care given to George. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com

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TAYLOR, George – Passed away peacefully with family at his side on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Sault Area Hospital, at the age of 73. Beloved husband and best friend of Janet (Herriman). Father of Mark (Rose) and Mike (Jen). Loved Poppa to his grandchildren Zachary and Miranda. Son of the late Horace and Violet. Brother of the late Robert (late Arlene), late John (late Kirsten), Shirley Kent (Don), Judy Taylor (Ron) and Bill (Aila). Son-in-law to the late Charlie and Twila. Brother-in-law to Beth Greer (Bill), Charlene O’Donnell (Tim), Lori Park (Stuart) and the late Jim. Uncle George to his many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his good friends Dennis and Maureen Smith, his good fishing buddy Bill Hanes and many family and friends. A Private Memorial Service was held at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 4 pm. Mr. Gene Monin officiated. Memorial contributions in George’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated. With heartfelt thanks to the caring and compassionate staff on 2C at the Sault Area Hospital. Also a special thank you to doctors: Allen, Mossing, Hill and Nurse Practitioner Jenny Maugh for the care given to George. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com