Keith Taylor

1928 - 2021

KEITH ELMER TAYLOR

1928-2021

Keith Elmer Taylor, 93 year old Salt Lake City, Utah resident and former Oakley, Idaho resident passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I have decided to write my own obituary so that it will say what I want it to say. BIRTH: April 5, 1928 at Oakley, Idaho to Elmer L. and Emma Hardy Taylor. CHILDHOOD: I lived on a ranch at Almo, Idaho through first grade in a two-room log house with no running water (which was dipped out of a creek) and no electricity, but infested with rattle snakes, which we would kill almost every day in the summer. GRAMMAR SCHOOL: After first grade, I lived in tiny communities where my sainted mother was the teacher. I spent the sixth grade in Yale, Idaho where there were six children in the whole school. I was alone in the sixth grade, so I bragged that I graduated from Yale at age 12, at the top of my class! HIGH SCHOOL: I moved to the "city", Oakley, Idaho, population 650, for high school where I excelled in football, basketball and track and was student body president. MILITARY: I quit high school and joined the Marines at age 17. I later served a short time in the United States Air Force after ROTC. COLLEGE: B.S. and M.S. degrees from Utah State, which I attended on a track scholarship and was active in campus affairs: President of Greek fraternity, Junior Class and Blue Key Honorary Fraternity and member of the student council. Doctor of Jurisprudence from Stanford Law School. MARRIAGES: Marilyn Olsen and Patricia Jose, each for twenty years and each ending in divorce. Marriage to Paula J. Unrath, which has been a wonderful marriage and her three children have taken me under their wings and accepted me as one of them. CHILDREN and GRANDCHILDREN: Children Kim, Clark, Greg and Jane Ann and adopted children Phillip, Rudy and Jennelle, who have given me 20 wonderful grandchildren. PROFESSION: I started to practice law with what is now Parsons Behle and Latimer, which then had three lawyers. I was active in various Bar Associations during all of my years of practice. The firm has given me opportunities that have exceeded my wildest dreams, including participating in the longest civil trial conducted to date in the United States District Court for Utah before Judge Willis W. Ritter and taking Judge Ritter's deposition and cross examining him for two days in state court, when he sued one of the firm's clients. These were some of the greatest experiences of my professional life. I helped build the firm over more than fifty years to become the largest and one of the most prestigious local law firms in Utah. Firm members and staff have become my choice friends and extended family. I will always cherish their friendships. CHURCH: I was a member and active in the L.D.S. Church. ADVICE TO MY GRANDCHILDREN: Aim high in all that you do in life. There is always room at the top. Excel with a) FAMILY: Quoting David O. McKay, "No success in life can compensate for failure in the home". b) FAITH: It is my belief that to reach one's true potential, a firm religious faith and commitment is extremely important to serve as a solid anchor. c) FRIENDS: My wise old grandfather told me when he was in his 80's, "In the end, all that matters is family and friends". He was right. d) WORK: Without a loving family and loyal friends, life would be very shallow, indeed, but it is very important that you excel in your profession or occupation. CONCLUSION: I have had a wonderful life due to the hundreds of you out there who have helped me along the way. I am eternally grateful to each of you. So long, until we meet again. Keith. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Oakley Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans. A video tribute may be viewed using the following link

https://www.larkinmortuary.com/obituary/view/keith-taylor-67

or at morrisonfuneralhome.net. Arrangements are under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home, 188 South Hwy 24 in Rupert