Emery E. Taylor

7/13/1936 — 10/19/2023

Service Date: 10/28/2023
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Emery Elmer Taylor died peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, surrounded by his beloved family.

He was born on July 13, 1936, in Lewiston and grew up along the Washington/Idaho border between Asotin and Pend Oreille counties.

At 15 he ran away from home and later lied about his age to join the U.S. Air Force. He soon found himself in Denver and progressed to providing radar training to his peers and superiors.

The trajectory of his life changed dramatically after meeting a young pastor and his wife, Pop and Mom Crown, of First Free Methodist Church in Denver, who invited Emery to live in their home.

It was there that he experienced the love of Christ embodied, and he soon found Jesus for himself. He also found the love of his life, Mary Lois Roth, and they were married on July 21, 1957. They moved to Seattle and eventually welcomed sons Budd and Doug.

Emery and his family followed trucking jobs around the Northwest until they returned to Denver. Upon retiring, Emery and Mary Lois once again returned to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley where he threw himself into ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church, meeting friends for coffee, and perfecting his lawn and garden.

He was a loving husband and father, and his wife was madly in love with him to the very end.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lois Taylor, his sons Budd (Lynda) Taylor of Golden, Colo., and Doug (Jean) Taylor of Seattle; grandchildren Tim Taylor, Amy (Nate and great-grandchild Ellie) Kennedy, Maggie Taylor, Fiona Taylor and Logan Taylor, and sisters Marie Taylor, Evelyn Baker and Ellen Taylor.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday Oct. 28, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2200 11th Ave., in Lewiston. All are welcome and a live feed will be available through the church website at ebclewiston.org.