Hugh Taylor

1932 - 2023

Hugh Madden Taylor age 90, of South Dayton, N.Y. passed away on the evening of Thursday, May 25, 2023. Born Sept. 4, 1932, he was preceded in death by his parents, the late Rev. James Taylor and Miriam Madden Taylor; his brothers, James and Robert Taylor; and his wife of 53 years, Donna Lawson Gow Taylor. Hugh was a highly educated man, who was a lifelong learner. With a bachelors and a masters degree in elementary education and a principal's certificate, he started his professional career in the field of education where he also met his wife. In his 50s, he felt called to enter the ministry, and so he went back to school, earning his masters of divinity. He preached, well past his retirement, wherever he was needed or requested. He was a sesquipedalian and general logophile who could take 20 minutes to explain an answer that only needed three minutes. Half the time you could not decide if he was pulling your leg or not, but it sounded so good that you found yourself believing him. He had an amazing singing voice, it was so beautiful and rich, that people would always remember and talk about his voice or request him to sing more. When we were little, we were never called home at night, we were sung home, and everyone knew by the voice that it was time for the Taylor kids to go home. He had a charisma that could make people listen, make them want to share their own story and make them want to be near him. It did not matter if it was an older person, a young adult, a kid, a male or a female, there was just an aura of peace and happiness surrounding him that made you feel comfortable and safe. Hugh loved God and this love was shown throughout his life. He is survived by his three younger brothers (Bruce, David and Jay) and his three younger sisters (Miriam, Sara and Roberta). He is also survived by his four children, son, James Taylor (Michelle); daughter, Rachel Locke (Paul); daughter, Margaret Werner; daughter, Sarah Harris (Joseph); his thirteen grandchildren (Joshua, Katherine, Jacob, Casey, Olivia, Benjamin, Camaro, Jerrod, Levi, Sarah Dianna, Nicholas, Hannah, and Jamie Lee); and his 12 great-grandchildren. For anyone who knows Hugh and wishes to pay their respects, viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, at ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME LTD., 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington, where a service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell. .