Hyde LeRoy Taylor
1937 — 2024
Hyde LeRoy Taylor, 86, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024, four days after the death of his beloved wife, Gwen. They were married for 67 years, and we know that dad had to make sure that things were taken care of for mom before he could peacefully leave us.
Hyde LeRoy Taylor was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on the 30th of October 1937 to Hyrum (Hyde) Young Taylor and Lola Ensign Taylor. He was named after his dad’s nickname. He was also known as Skip to all of his family and friends growing up so we were only allowed to have Skippy peanut butter in our house. Hyde was an only child, but was surrounded by many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Hyde contracted polio when he was five years old, and was paralyzed from the waist down for a year. With revolutionary therapeutic help from doctors and many neighbors and family members, he was able to recover after a year with no life-long repercussions.
Soon after Hyde recovered, his father opened a paint and sporting goods store in downtown Provo, Utah, and the family relocated there. He helped in the store growing up, and also took on odd painting jobs around town, eventually becoming a master painter and woodworker. He eventually attended Brigham Young High School, where he was on the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams and active in school social life. He also met his lifelong love, Gwen Moon, a cute cheerleader, and they graduated in 1956.
Hyde and Gwen were married on August 22, 1957 in the Salt Lake City Temple. After being in the Army Reserve for two years and with a second child on the way, Hyde joined the Army, which became a 24-year career. His first assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division and the 502 Infantry Battalion at the Army Airborne School in Ft. Campbell, KY, which determined the rest of his Army career. He became a jumpmaster, a Pathfinder, and eventually the Sergeant Major of the Airborne Academy in Ft. Benning, GA. He trained thousands of troops stateside and in Okinawa, Japan, and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was a recognized hero on the battlefield, rescuing several men on different occasions, receiving a silver star, two bronze stars, and an Army commendation medal for his bravery. After many years of travel and adventure, Hyde retired in Provo, Utah in 1981 as an ROTC instructor at Brigham Young University. After retirement, he worked as a property manager and partnered with his son Aaron in Hyde Taylor & Sons, a wood-floor business.
Hyde is survived by his children JoLene (Grant) McQueen, Janice (Greg) Knuteson, Aaron (Andrea) Taylor, and Matthew (Max) Calise. He is also survived by his treasured grandchildren Marcus Vickers, Erica (Rickey) Casper, Addison Rose, Sarah (Tyler Belnap) McQueen, Michael McQueen, Catherine McQueen, Mary (Grant)Valentine, Zadie Taylor, Maxwell Taylor and Blaise Taylor, as well as four great-grandchildren, Rylan D. Casper, Taylor Casper, Maverick Taylor, and Maeve Belnap.
Hyde is preceded in death by his beloved wife Gwen Moon Taylor, and his parents Hyrum Young Taylor and Lola Ensign Taylor. He also leaves behind many loved friends and neighbors.
Funeral services will be held jointly with his wife, Gwen Moon Taylor, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Pleasant View 4th Ward Chapel, 350 East 2950 North, Provo, Utah. A viewing will be held at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Tuesday, October 29, from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Wednesday, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Burial will follow at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Camp Williams, Utah. Hyde will be buried with full military honors. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.