David Leon Taylor

David L. Taylor, 85, of Flora Vista, passed away on Saturday, Dec 27, 2025, at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, New Mexico.

He was born in Clovis, New Mexico in 1940 to Joseph Etheridge Taylor and Zelma Davis Taylor. He is preceded in death by his father, Joe and mother, Zelma, as well as his sister Jo Beth (Taylor) Gamett and brother, Richard Taylor.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jacque Taylor; daughter, Tamara Taylor; and sons Jeff (DeLea) and Dean (Diane); grandchildren Tara Edgmon (Rylan), Clay Dalen Taylor, Jake Taylor and Zack Taylor (Reagan); great-grandchildren Jolie, Sadie and Gunner Edgmon and Luke, Codi and Dylan Taylor; and his youngest brother, Kerney Taylor and brother-in-law Donnie Holmes (Debbie).

Dave grew up in Elida, NM where his grandparents Ess and Mag Taylor homesteaded and Dave’s father remained to raise his family. He learned hard work at a very young age in his father’s dairy which molded his work ethic throughout his life. Dave met Jacque Holmes in 1961 while attending Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM. They instantly fell in love and married on August 3, 1962, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Farmington. They moved to Farmington to make their home in 1962 where Dave worked for Burt Explosives for a short time as a truck driver hauling explosives, which was a risky adventure for sure. Later, he went to work for Capital Fence doing construction and accounting, all the while he built homes for close friends, many barns and renovations and became a seasoned real estate developer throughout the years.

He worked at Kysar Insurance Agency prior to opening his own Allstate Insurance office in October 1970 and retired in August 2000. During his time with Allstate, he and Jacque were able to travel to places like Singapore and Hawaii. We cannot forget that he shared a common love for horses with Jacque during their many years together where they rode, roped and fostered the love of horses and rodeo with their kids. They loved taking their kids to rodeos and trips skiing with good friends. He was a founding member of the Aztec Roping Club and President of the Four Corners Horsemen’s Association during the late 70’s.

Dave and Jacque went on during his retirement to follow in her parents’ footsteps in owning Broodmares, breeding and racing quarter horses, which many of showed much success on the track throughout the years. He and Jacque were snowbirds for several years and loved their home in New River, AZ where they were able to ride their horses in the saguaro covered wilderness. He loved to participate in extracurricular activities such as Odyssey of the Minds with his granddaughter Tara and her school friends, and travel and watch all his grandkids school and sporting activities.

He was a wonderful man, father, husband, and grandfather, who will be deeply missed and whose legacy will live on through all he impacted throughout his life and particularly through the family he so deeply cared for and loved.

Memorial services will be held at Aztec Church of the Nazarene located at 1061 NM 516, Aztec, NM on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 11:00 am, burial to follow at Aztec Cemetery.