Gary Lawrence Taylor

Gary Lawrence Taylor, 68, passed away Monday, July 25, 2016, at his home south of Saco, Mont., from complications of his illnesses.

Gary was a life-long resident of the Saco community. He was born in Glasgow, Mont., on June 28, 1948, to Florence and Lawrence Taylor. On June 23, 1973, the rancher married the school teacher, Vivian Baquet, in Choteau.

He attended Saco School, graduating in 1966, and then attended Northern Montana College majoring in business. Before finishing his degree, he returned to the ranch when his father became ill. He continued working on the ranch for most of his life. He liked the cattle and made several of them his pets. After many years on the ranch, he leased the place and became the owner and operator of Saco Auto and Ag. He took great pride in providing humor and words of enlightenment to those who stopped by.

In 2010, he started another chapter of his life. He was diagnosed with a paralyzed diaphragm due to injuries sustained by a motorcycle accident many years prior to the diagnosis. Also at this time, he was appointed as the Phillips County Justice of the Peace. Following the appointment, he was elected and served for four years. During this time, he formed many friendships with the officers, his clerk, Debra Peigneux, and the people in the courthouse. He also formed many friendships with fellow Justices of the Peace throughout the state. He took great pride in serving the community in this role.

He served on the Phillips County Youth Probation Board for many years. He was honored to work with Clark Kelly and the other members of the board in trying to make a positive difference for the youth of Phillips County.

As a teenager, he began playing the guitar and singing with a band. He worked with many local musicians and appreciated a good song and a good guitar player. He considered it an honor to play for weddings and funerals. He also liked playing for church. He continued playing his guitar for his own enjoyment and enlightened his grandchildren with many songs. His guitar was by his chair and many hours were spent strumming while watching TV. He was a prolific poet and song writer. Those people,who received one of his poems or songs, usually enjoyed his wit and unique sense of humor.

He was also an inventor. He always wanted to make work easier and would make inventions to do this. While working at Saco Auto and Ag, he designed, built, welded and manufactured lots of tools and items for himself and others. Whatever he made, his family always knew it was built to last.

For his mid-life crisis he purchased a Honda Goldwing bike. He cruised many miles on his bike from Glacier Park to Sturgis to Buffalo, Wyo., to Washington and numerous places in between. He especially enjoyed traveling with his biker buddies. He finally was able to convince Vivian to ride with him and they took a few trips together, too. He called her "His Waterwoman." Every time she rode they encountered rain. After he developed health issues, he sold his bike and purchased his "Ranger." This became his mode of transportation through the hills, entertaining the grandkids and trips to town for mail, food and conversation (not gossip).

Preceding him in death were his parents and his sister, Carol Johnson.

Survivors include his wife, Vivian, who he loved and appreciated for the care that she provided. He is also survived by three children, Shyla Clausen and her husband, Carter, of Malta, Lara Smith and her husband, Joel, of Glasgow, and son, Jered Taylor and his wife, Mandy, of Bigfork; six grandchildren, whom he adored, Payton, Connor and Kendall Clausen, Riley and Annika Smith and Nicholas Taylor; two nephews, Paul and Stacy Johnson; and numerous cousins.

Service were held on Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at Saco Lutheran Church in Saco, with inurnment following at Grandview Cemetery. Condolences may be left at bellmortuarymontana.com.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.