Obituary of Roger Odel TAYLOR

TAYLOR, Roger Odel November 3, 1935 – April 11, 2014 Roger Odel Taylor passed away on April 11, 2014 at the age of 78 years in Strathmore, Alberta. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Frances; Fran’s three children, and seven chosen children; twenty nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his sisters Myrna Kissick, and Ardith Servachus; sister-in-law Sheelagh Tomie; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Roger was predeceased by his mother Dolly Taylor (nee Lonto) in 1970, and his father Norman Roger Taylor in 1993. He loved sports including football and bowling. Roger was a Calgary Bronks alumni, and won the Rookie Award in 1956. Roger also had a distinguished career in Calgary Rugby encompassing 55 years of dedicated service, development and leadership to the game. This included playing, coaching, refereeing and as a volunteer and leader at club and Union levels, most notably being Captain and later President of the Calgary Hornet’s Rugby Football Club and President of the Calgary Rugby Union. Roger provided unselfish service and leadership to the rugby community and was instrumental in the development of the game in Calgary for both men and women. In the earlier years of his career and the CRU he was recognized for his stellar play on the field and for his leadership of the Hornets RFC. In his later years he transitioned to coaching and refereeing at the junior level while continuing to play club level and organize Old Boy teams. He was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the Kingsland and Shepard Road facilities. For this dedication and commitment to the sport he was a “Lifetime Member’ of the Hornets RFC and, in 2013, was inducted into the Calgary Rugby Union’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Roger was also a long-time member of The Royal Canadian Legion, Strathmore Branch #10. He served on the executive of the Branch and has held the positions of Poppy Chairman and Branch Service Officer, as well as being on the Color Party. Roger would show up for the meat draws and an occasional cold beer. He helped serve the Ladies at their annual Christmas Supper. He played cribbage, loved Senior Darts, and along with Fran represented the Branch and District at Command Euchre. A true dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Lest we forget. Roger had also been an International Order of the Old Bastards member since 1992 and held the executive position of Hammerhead, which meant looking after the bus trips for many years. He enjoyed the comradeship of all the club members and rarely missed a club meeting. What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we loved becomes a part of us. A Celebration of Roger’s Life will be held on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Strathmore Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #10, at 2:00 p.m. To send condolences, please click the link below. Send Condolences