Kenneth Dale Taylor

10, 2026, following an extended illness. He was born on November 1, 1942, in

Edgerton, Wisconsin, to Thaddeus Anthony Egnoski and Carol Ione Shultz. At the age

of seven, Ken moved with his mother to Selah, Washington, where she fell in love with

and married Carl Everett Taylor, the father of two daughters. Together, they formed a

blended family of five. Ken met his wife, Rosemary Patricia Hernandez, while “dragging

the Ave” in Yakima, Washington, they married on May 27, 1967.

From a young age, Ken loved the outdoors. Hunting and fishing were lifelong interests,

along with raising and showing birds. What began with pigeons and chickens eventually

grew into raising waterfowl. His passion for waterfowl often landed him in the local

newspaper, and sometimes his birds made the news themselves after a successful

escape, leaving people wondering how a bird native to a distant part of the world had

found its way to the Pacific Northwest.

Ken spent most of his career working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U & I Sugar

Company, and Darigold. He also operated a taxidermy business, preserving many of his

beloved waterfowl, deer, and upland game birds, which found a place on the walls of his

home. He would spend hours working on each one, whistling as he always did when he

was content.

Ken also loved animals and took in every stray that found him. Rosie knew that if she

arrived home to a new pet Ken had already named, he wasn’t going to give it up.

Ken will be remembered for his sense of humor and the cast of characters he brought to

life while making his rounds on the telephone, keeping in touch with friends and family.

Whether calling as Duffy of Duffy’s Tavern, Wally of Wally's [you know what kind of

shop], Juan, or Pedro, he had a memorable way of making an ordinary phone call

anything but ordinary. One may speculate that his fascination with characters stemmed

from decades of watching soap operas. Of course, he would also want us to mention

that he was an avid basketball fan, having played for Selah High School back in the

day, and looked forward to March Madness each season. He never held back his

opinions during a game. Many words were said!

More than anything, Ken will be remembered for his descriptive stories of hunting and

fishing adventures. No story was complete without the hand gestures and body

movements that brought each tale to life.

He is survived by his wife, Rosie Taylor; his children, Deborah Dee (Charles) Wing, Kurtis

Dustin Taylor, Kristen Diane (Kevin) Cuyle, and Kathleen Denise Taylor; his sisters,

Christine Jonas Vancore, Tina Egnoski, Diane Kroell, Susan Egnoski, Carolyn

Watson and their families; his grandchildren, Stina Rae Wilder, Lindsey Kay Smith,

Anna Marie Bocook, Kendra Deanne McLaughlin, Kameron David Taylor, Lydia Renee

Cuyle, and Landen Richard Cuyle; and his great-grandchildren, Riley Wing, Spencer

Valdivia, Cheyanna Rose Peterson, Kaylee Grace Smith, Landon John Smith, Madilynn

Marie Bocook, and Pyper Ann Bocook.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Joyce Kreidit and Janice Schorle.

Ken often ended his phone calls with a simple “Love ya”. It wasn’t always easy for him

to share his true feelings, but when he said those words, he meant them.