ROBERT EUGENE TAYLOR

1930 – 2018

Robert Eugene Taylor was born November 3, 1930, to Sherman and Fern in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was second of three sons; William (Bill) and James (Jim). The Taylor family moved to Portland where Bob graduated from Lincoln High School.

Bob met Patricia Mae Boyle in 1950. They married in 1951, and in 1953, Michael (Mike) Taylor, the first of seven children, arrived.

In 1951, Bob joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he was staff assistant to Brig. Gen. W.J. Scheyer. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, he was honorably discharged as Master Sergeant in 1954.

After his discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, the Taylor family moved to Portland and Bob enrolled at Lewis & Clark College. Mike was soon joined by brothers Jeffery (Jeff) in 1954, and Daniel (Dan) in 1956. 1956 was also the year Bob graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. With new credentials in hand, he began teaching business courses at Pacific Business College and worked as a teacher, counselor and later Department Head at Franklin High School (1956-1964).

Christopher (Casey) was born in 1957. It was during this time that Bob, with four young children, worked two teaching jobs while simultaneously completing his Master of Education, Counseling & Guidance & Educational Administration degree from the University of Oregon. Bob graduated in 1959. Son Joseph (Joe) arrived in 1960, rounding out the Taylor brothers. The first of two daughters, Rachel, was born in 1963.

From 1964 to 1966, Bob was Curriculum Vice Principal at Washington High School. In 1965 he took the additional role of Director, Personalized Education Program at Portland Public Schools. Despite (or perhaps because of) having six young children at home, to keep himself busy over the summer of 1966, he worked as Assistant Director for the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) where he pioneered the standard for counselor and teacher skills in educating disadvantaged students. A career educator and life-long learner, Bob completed other graduate work over the following years at the University of Oregon, Lewis & Clark College, Portland State University and San Francisco State College.

In 1967, the Taylor family moved to Gresham and Bob accepted the position of Principal at Centennial High School. From 1970 to 1983, Bob was Principal at Sam Barlow High School, and daughter Katie arrived to complete the Taylor children. In 1981 Bob married Carol Qualls. Bob and Carol moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1983 where he took the position of Director of Instructional Services with Lane Educational Service District until his retirement. He continued as a curriculum consultant after retiring.

An avid reader, golfer, and lover of music and art, Bob had a keen sense of humor and an appreciation for beauty and the absurd. A poet at heart, his home was full of his creative works. Bob (Robert E) and Carol enjoyed traveling, visiting Australia, Europe and Hawaii.

Bob (Robert E) is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife Carol; children Mike, Dan, Casey, Joe, Rachel and Katie; step-children Kimberly and Darrin; grandchildren Alex, Luke, Meagan, Kayley, Justin and Lindsay. He is predeceased by his parents, son Jeff, and brothers Bill and Jim.

A celebration of Robert Taylor’s life will be held June 23, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Gresham United Methodist Church, 620 NW 8th Street, Gresham. Private interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery.

Donations in Robert’s memory can be made to the University of Oregon Ken Kesey Collection, or to benefit Alzheimer’s disease research, or to a charity of your choice.