May 29, 1929 – November 6, 2026
Gaylen Vern Taylor, 97, of Gardner, KS, passed away on November 6, 2026, surrounded by family, at his daughter’s home in Duluth, GA. Visitation will be 5:00pm – 7:00pm Sunday, November 15, 2026 with a Masonic Service at 5:15 pm at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, KS. Funeral Services will be 10:00am Monday, November 16, 2026 at First Baptist Church, 324 E. Shawnee, Gardner, Kansas. Military Honors at the church. Burial will follow at the Westmoreland Cemetery, Westmoreland, Kansas.
Gaylen was born on May 29, 1929, in Westmoreland, KS, to Vern Ira and Alice Opal Taylor. He grew up in Westmoreland and graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1948. On April 17, 1951, he married Roberta “Joan” Taylor in Westmoreland.
He began his career with Reno Construction in the Summer of 1946 while he was still in high school, and the day after he graduated, he continued working for Reno Construction until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 7, 1950, and served aboard ships that traveled to Thule, Greenland, through the Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After leaving the Navy in 1954, he returned to work for Reno Construction; his career took him to many places throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado before he and Joan eventually settled in Gardner. Gaylen retired from Reno in 2002.
Gaylen and Mary Ann learned to snow ski in 1974 on a weekend trip to Colorado organized by one of the Gardner high school teachers. Maurice, Rob, Zach, Christy, Scott & Alex all learned to ski and Gaylen made ski trips with all four of his grandkids. There were several trips and many stories to tell. Gaylen and Maurice had their CDL (commercial driver’s license) allowing them to make several trips as the bus drivers.
In retirement, Gaylen and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the United States. They explored Alaska and Canada in their RV and spent several winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He traveled to Germany in 2015, where Mary Ann and family were residing at the time, and visited Belgium, Poland, France, and the Netherlands. His trip to Germany was to celebrate the first of three graduations he travelled to for his granddaughter, Alex’s, high school graduation in Bonn Germany, BA from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, and her MBA from Auburn University in Auburn, AL. He visited his granddaughter, Christy, in Tacoma, WA, in 2023 to attend her partner, Scott’s, Doctorate graduation. His grandson, Zachary, and wife Michelle, hosted Thanksgiving for many years, and once Gaylen’s wife, Joan, passed, they, along with his daughter-in-law, Jo, would gather at Gaylen’s house with everyone contributing to the meal.
Gaylen was part of a Kansas Honor Flight in 2016, accompanied by his daughter, Mary Ann. Scott, his grandson, who was living in Maryland at the time, was able to join the group of veterans while visiting the monuments. Gaylen was one of four selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Gaylen was a member of the local VFW in Gardner and was proud of all those who served, including Scott’s wife Toni, a Navy Veteran, who joined him one Memorial Day in Gardner handing out poppies.
Gaylen loved helping his son-in-law, Rob, with DIY projects and was always willing to lend a hand (or be put to work). Together, they built a fence, a shed, installed windows, and even replaced sections of the boardwalk on St. George Island, Florida. He enjoyed taking on a supervisory role in his later years, too. Gaylen loved completing puzzles with the family, playing Uno (without mercy), and never missed an opportunity to play Mexican Train dominoes. He was also a loyal sports fan, enjoying the Kansas City Chiefs, the Royals, and, in recent years, the Georgia Bulldogs.
Gaylen was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joan; his son, Maurice Taylor; his infant brother Roy Dee and sister Kathryn Walters.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann, and her husband, Rob, of Duluth, GA; four grandchildren: Zachary (Michelle) Taylor of Overland Park, KS; Christy Taylor (Scott Farkas) of Tacoma, WA; Scott (Toni) Mann of Chapel Hill, TN; and Alex Mann of Duluth, GA; and two great-granddaughters, Emmie and Logan Mann. He is also survived by his brother, Derrell (Shirley) Taylor, of Gresham, OR; his daughter-in-law, Joan Taylor, of Gardner, KS; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Gardner, KS, or VFW Post 11234 in Gardner, KS.
Obituary published by Bruce Funeral Home.
