Michael Taylor

Michael Patrick Taylor, 65, died June 20th, 2020, at his home in Littleton, Colorado.

Michael was born March 18, 1955, in the city of Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois, to Raymond and Lucy Taylor. At two months of age, Michael's family moved to Garden Grove, California, where they established a home that Mike and his older brother, Denny, would grow up in. Mike attended elementary and intermediate school in Garden Grove and then graduated from Rancho Alamitos High School with the class of 1973. He has stayed connected with many of those friends. Afterwards he began taking classes at Cypress Community College while working as a lifeguard at the Disneyland Hotel.

In 1975, Mike transferred to the University of Utah, and enrolled in the US Air Force ROTC Program. He would later transfer to the US Marine Corps (USMC) ROTC program. He began the USMC Basic School at Quantico, VA in 1977. That same year he graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences. In the summer of 1977 Mike met his future eternal companion, Marilyn Ann Wise, and they married February 18, 1978. After finishing the Basic School Mike began Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. This same year, when he was 23 years old, his father, Raymond, passed away.

Mike was assigned to many squadrons during his early military career, including: VT-2 (Whiting Field); VMO-2 (Camp Pendleton); H&MS 36 Flight Section (Okinawa); and VT-25 (Beeville, TX) as an instructor. These assignments required Michael and Marily to relocate all over the United States. During this period they began their family, having Jonathan in 1979 (Florida), Anna in 1981 (California), Jennifer in 1984 (Texas), and Patrick in 1985 (Colorado). In 1984, Michael earned his Masters in Management from Webster University and began working for Continental Airlines. In 1986, Michael transferred from the USMC to the Naval Reserves. In 1988, Michael and Marilyn purchased the home where all their kids would grow up in Littleton, Colorado. Michael's career with Continental Airlines continued until 2000, and then in 2001 he began working for Frontier Airlines. Michael would stay with Frontier Airlines until 2005. In 2006, Michael accepted several assignments with the Naval Reserves, which saw him working out of Colorado Springs, The Pentagon, and ultimately active duty in Iraq from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, Michael's mother, Lucy, passed away. Michael retired from the Naval Reserves in 2009 with over 30 years of military service. Michael enjoyed the following years seeing his children get married and have children of their own. In 2016, Michael and Marilyn served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Chicago. In 2019, Michael and Marilyn served another mission in Honolulu Hawaii at the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe. Michael and Marilyn returned to their home in Colorado in March, 2020. In May, 2020, Michael and Marilyn's son, Jonathan, passed away.

Michael had a passion and love for many things throughout his life, but above all his family was his priority. His children all attribute their successes to the love and guidance they received from their father and mother. Michael was a fierce and loyal friend to many and his absence will be sorely felt.