Gordon "Robin" Taylor

Most of you know him as “Robin”. He never really went by Gordon but was very proud of his namesake. In the 1950’s, his mom, Vivian Taylor got recruited out of high school to work for a little company called Hallmark Cards. This is where she met her dear friend, Gordon Laite, he was a famous mixed media artist, who put out thousands of pieces of art and was also an illustrator for many children’s books. Robin always had his works mounted in his home. He never stopped hunting to expand his collection, and he was so proud to have handpicked at least one print for each of his kids.

Robin was born in Heidelberg, Germany, to Guiou Harry Jr. and Vivian Taylor, while his dad was stationed in the Army. He came into the world on February 7th, 1960. They moved to Brookside in 1962.

From 65-66, Vivian took her boys to live in Cincinnati. Robin often spoke of the parties his mom would throw and he and his big brother spending time on the roof watching the stars. They moved to Chillicothe from 66-68, where Vivian’s folks had a farm. Here is where Robin and Guy would go romping around riding horses and stumbling upon adventures. From 1969-1979 they moved back to the Plaza across from the library, as a family of 3 with their beloved Irish “Setter” Dog.

Robin attended Bryant Elementary where he first met Allison Long. They were grade school enemies but grew to be the love of each other lives. Robin went to Bingham Middle School and Southwest High School, Class of 78.

Our mom describes dating him as the most exciting time of her life. He would take her horseback riding, on motorcycle cruises, go to the drive-in, to get ice cream and, always going for joy rides - on the lookout for their dream farm. Their love was cemented at a very young age. He and Allison were married on January 17, 1979 and had many homes nested in the heart of Kansas City throughout their 43 years of marriage.

They welcomed their first child into the world, Lee Ann on July 22, 1979. Robin was beaming in the hospital as he rolled out his wife and child to show them off to the world. Their second child, Michael Brandon, arrived July 16, 1982. The baby of the family, Katie Lynn, came on May 3, 1984. He was always boasting over his kids and such a proud father. He enjoyed taking them on adventures to the stables to see their two horses Gucci and Katie and to soccer games on the weekends. The Taylor family of 5 lived in Brookside across the street from suicide hill until 1993. His kids attended Visitation. In 1994, the family uprooted from Missouri to Prairie Village, KS to their “dream home” at 73rd and Belinder where they still reside.

Robin was a worker. He started working at around the age of 13. He was proud of the years he worked for Quik Trip while he was having his babies. In his later years he was an entrepreneur and had several small businesses he and his wife owned. In February of 1988, his mother-in-law, Patricia Long passed away leaving behind her sandwich shop in Downtown KC that he and Allison purchased and renamed “Pattycakes” in her honor. Sitting at 9th and Grand was their little gem of a greasy spoon that normally had lines out the door at lunch time. This venture lasted just a few years until he returned to “career life” to provide his family with more stability.

Robin was an athlete at heart and loved playing all the sports. He was a swimmer and diver, played football up until his sophomore year of high school and his ultimate favorite was soccer. He played on both indoor and outdoor teams throughout his adult years into his 40’s. He was a natural competitor and hated to lose. Certainly, for team sports but also at any family function where you could find a game of badminton, ping pong, corn toss or even poker. He was also good at making everyday life into a competition; always shooting hoops into the trash can or turning any chair with arms into a balance beam for a handstand. He was “little but mighty” and a force to be reckoned with for his speed and strength. He tried out for American Gladiators in the 90’s and just fell short of doing 50 “fingertip” pushups in 30 seconds.

His athlete days ended around 2002, after he underwent a major lung surgery to remove a large mass. It was benign, but this was the game changer. It was an ongoing battle with flareups, and he got winded easily, but that didn’t keep him from doing most of his normal activities. He still loved to mow the yard and work on endless projects around the house. He was a handyman to say the least and was able to fix pretty much anything you put in front of him.

He had a love for Antiques which was passed down for generations and followed suit of his Mom’s booth at Waldo Antiques and started getting his own space in the early 2000’s. This was a lifelong passion of collecting that came to light and gave a whole new outlet for looking for treasures. The family would frequent auctions, garage and estate sales. He focused on collecting all sorts of his favorite categories…marbles, holiday decorations from all over the world, especially Germany—Halloween and Christmas being his favorite, arrowheads, Native American artifacts, jewelry, and books.

In 2007, he welcomed his first grandchild, Landon Taylor Cummings to the world with open arms and full support for his daughter Katie. Landon quickly became the light of his life and his “little buddy”. His grandfatherhood continued with his son Mike gifting Jack Howard in September 2014 and Willa Vivian in July of 2017. He loved being a “Pa Pa”.

He was an avid music lover and went to see live music any chance he got. Some of his favorites were Elton John, Tom Petty, The Cars, The Eagles, Earth, Wind and Fire, Phil Collins, James Taylor and the list goes on and on. He proudly checked off a bucket list item, early this year, by going to see Elton John at the Sprint Center in KC in February - just one day after being discharged from the hospital. We took him in a wheelchair with oxygen tanks and rolled him right up to the floor for a perfect view. This was a magical evening and he was proud beyond words that he had made it to the show.

In September of 2021, he came down with another pneumonia and serious lung infection. Over the next several months he had been in and out of KU hospital and was having more difficulty breathing. As his prognosis continued to decline, his spirit never changed. He was determined to beat the odds and eventually get a lung transplant. Unfortunately, his body couldn’t keep up with his mind, determination or heart. He succumbed to the disease peacefully on Sunday, July 24th surrounded by his wife and kids.

Robin was preceded in death by his mother Vivian and father Guiou, grandfather AD, grandmother Maureen and mother-in-law, Patricia Long and brothers-in-law Sammy and Ricky.

He is survived by his wife Allison; children Lee Ann, Michael and Katie; grandchildren Landon, Jack and Willa; brother Guiou, half sister Tahirih; half brother Shem; sisters-in-law Kim, Val, Sandy, and Rene. He also has several nieces and nephews Jaime, Guiou & Mandy; Matt, Chris, Paul, Jamie, Cassie and many, many cousins, friends and extended family that meant the world to him.

He was loved by many and is also described as a gentle soul and “one of the nicest men” that people knew. He was truly one of the good ones and will be greatly missed.