Ward Reed Taylor

Ward Reed Taylor, 81, peacefully passed from mortality surrounded by his family on September 8, 2020 in Henderson, NV. He was a humble man possessed of many qualities and talents that resulted in a lifetime of accomplishments. He would say his crowning achievement was his marriage to his life-long love, Barbara Jean Anderson in the Manti, UT Temple on April 11, 1958 and their subsequent rearing of seven children. As a husband, he always worked hard to provide for the family, but he always kept Barbara as his priority and considered her as his queen. Through thick and thin, challenges and success, they were companions, made joint decisions and did everything together. As a father, he taught principles of integrity and hard work, but he made time to have fun and let his children feel of his love for them. His children revered him as their hero and the toughest man they knew. They sought both his approval and his counsel. His twenty-nine grandchildren will remember him as a patriarchal leader, but at the same time, a hilarious jokester and always ready with a good story. His interests were broad, but he loved gardening, inventing/creativity and spending time with family. He was service-oriented and ready and willing to help anyone at anytime to do anything!

Reed was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings including Bishopric, home teacher, and primary teacher. Occupationally, he owned a dairy farm, welder, owner of Taylor’s Welding Shop and worked as a mechanic in Nevada gold mines.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Taylor of Henderson, NV; his seven children, Wesley Reed Taylor of Henderson, NV, Mary Jean (Kendall) Carson of St. George, UT, John (Janet) Taylor of Wilmington, OH, Rula (Michael) McKinlay of Lewistown, MT, Melanie (Terry) Heideman of Baker City, OR, Frank (Staci) of Chesnee, SC, and Hayley (Brandy) of Henderson, NV; his brother, Robert Val (Meleta) Taylor of Orem, UT; twenty-nine grandchildren, and fifty-three great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. He is preceded in death by both parents, Ward Ray and Rula Ann Buchanan Taylor, two sisters, Floris Cloward and Elaine Brown, and his three brothers, Richard, Darrel, and Franklin. 

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Moapa Valley Mortuary, 5090 N. Moapa Valley Blvd, Logandale, NV. Due to COVID-19, services will be live-streamed. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

“Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”

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