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Keith Taylor Obituary
November 27, 1929 - May 18, 2025
Boise, Idaho - Our family and dear friends mourn the passing of Keith Taylor. He was a kind, caring, industrious and compassionate soul. Born in The Dalles, Oregon, his family moved to Boise when Keith was two years old. He attended Boise High School, Boise Junior College, and the College of Idaho, prior to graduating from medical school in 1954 from the University of Oregon. Dr. Keith Taylor served in the Army and was stationed in Germany from 1956-1958. He received Orthopedic Surgical Residency training at the University of Oregon and specialized in Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery at Saint Luke's initially, then at Saint Alphonsus. Dr. Keith Taylor helped establish Orthopedic Associates in 1973 and practiced through St. Alphonsus Hospital until he retired in 1993.
While in medical school he met a vivacious, smart, kind and beautiful student nurse and married her! Keith and Dawn shared their married lives one day shy of their 69th wedding anniversary. They were a loving couple to the end. They raised an active and connected family with whom they shared their passions. Family members include Kari (Raleigh Fehr), Lisa, Steven (Jenny Taylor) and David (Lisa Taylor) with 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Together, we enjoyed skiing, sailing, kayaking, wind surfing, tennis, hiking, hunting and biking. Beyond athletics, Keith cultivated a life-long passion for music, playing saxophone and clarinet before specializing in oboe for many years with the Boise Philharmonic and later in community bands. He was committed to his community.
A life-long passionate skier, he began skiing and jumping in 1943 at Bogus Basin and served on the Board of Directors, providing input with regards to the layout of the current chairlift and trail systems. He was one of the founding members establishing the Boise Racquet & Swim Club. He was a strong supporter of the Boise Greenbelt trails and the Boise White Water park.
Keith is preceded in death by his son-in law, Raleigh, and a grand-daughter, Sarah. He is survived by his wife Dawn, four children, nine grand-children, and one great-grandchild.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025 at The Riverside Hotel (2900 Chinden Blvd, Boise) from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Idaho Rivers United (https://www.idahorivers.org/donate) or your charity of choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Keith Taylor
Sponsored by The Idaho Statesman.
Steve Stuebner
July 13, 2025
I had the privilege of skiing and boating with Keith, and he had a million-dollar smile when we were out in the mountains. He'd be like, what a blessing to be out here amongst nature while skiing fresh *pow*.
I interviewed him about the first people to kayak the Payette River for my guidebook "Paddling the Payette" and he still had one of those long fiberglass kayaks at his cabin in McCall ... he was truly a Payette River pioneer, and he boated a lot of other rivers with Idaho river pioneers like Tulio Celeno, Walt Blackadar, Mike Norell (Mike's Hole) and many others.
I once beat him playing tennis and he told me to go play some other people closer to my age ... he was super competitive! Ha! :)
I'm sure he touched many lives in our community over the years with his kindness, bright outlook on life and zeal for outdoor adventure.
Dan Givens
July 13, 2025
My sincere condolences to Dawn, Steve and the entire family. I first met Dr. Taylor while venturing into ski racing with his son Steve (I think we were around 8yo). Keith was equal parts compassionate, intelligent and tough as nails. I'm proud to have known (and had bones set by) such a kind and incredibly talented man.
Brian Ellsworth
July 1, 2025
I was introduced to Keith through my father Roy Ellsworth. He guided me down my one and only kayak trip on the lower five of the Payette river. We shared an interest in all things outdoors. He also fixed my thumb (twice). My condolences to his family.
Nan (Blackadar) Bryant
June 29, 2025
To Keith Taylor´s family.
Please accept my deepest sympathy. My dad, Walt Blackadar, considered Keith a loving and loyal friend. He spoke of Keith often and shared stories of their kayaking adventures. May you all find the strength to "Roll Up!"
Affectionately, Nan (Blackadar) Bryant
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Bud Schwaegler
June 28, 2025
I first met Keith when we were surgical residents at U. of Oregon. We became fast friends as neighbors and ski enthusiasts. Over the ensuing 60 yrs. we have helicopter skied the Canadian Rockies, scuba dived Puget Sound, windsurfed the Columbia Gorge, Baja California, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Add to this his kayaking prowess and you truly have a "man for all seasons"!
God speed Keith Taylor; you have been a lifelong inspiration and friend.
Bud Schwaegler
Yakima, WA
Sharon Oster
June 28, 2025
After band at Redwood church meeting at the coffee shop and talking about life
Joe Bejsovec
June 28, 2025
Keith was a good friend who introduced me to the community band. He lived a long and interesting life, and was well liked by everyone with whom he came in contact.
Peggy Hale
June 26, 2025
I will always remember Keith playing oboe and clarinet with the Capitol City Mulligan Band. He was an enthusiastic player who enjoyed being surrounded by the music.
Roxann Jensen
June 25, 2025
Keith was a founding member of the Capital City Mulligan Band. It was there that I met him and came to know him as a gentle soul and a great clarinet player. Dawn, Keith, and I were members of Musicians' Anonymous, a private group here in Boise. Keith would frequently entertain us with a solo. I will truly miss him. My heart goes out to his entire family. I'm SO very grateful for the opportunity to get to know Keith and Dawn.
Michael Ferguson
June 22, 2025
My heart goes out to Keith´s family and friends in this difficult time. I knew Keith through our shared interests in kayaking and windsurfing. I was also his patient. Early in my kayaking career, while trying to learn to roll, I managed to tear my humerus out of my shoulder socket. It was a serious injury and it only got worse, so when I finally realized surgery was the only solution there was only one choice of surgeon - Keith Taylor, my kayaking buddy. Keith´s repair was bomb-proof, and it allowed me to enjoy kayaking for decades that followed. It´s solid to this day. Knowing Keith in those early days of kayaking in Idaho yielded some of my fondest memories. May his memory live on and bring joy to all who knew him.
Peter Angleton
June 21, 2025
Condolences to the family. What a full life he lived. My medical career was just beginning as his was winding down, but on the occasions when I consulted him about a patient, he was always collegial, knowledgeable and helpful.
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