William J. Taylor

William J. Taylor (90) passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning. He was born November 1, 1933, to Leon and Mary Kathleen Parker Taylor on the Taylor Rd., Alexandria Bay. He graduated from Alexandria Central School in 1951, and upon graduation joined the United States Air Force, where he served as an airplane mechanic under the Strategic Air Command Wing (SAC) during the Korean Conflict. 

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Bill became a merchant marine who worked aboard a variety of tugboats on the Great Lakes. He was employed by companies that were responsible for marine construction, including building the St. Lawrence Seaway. After retiring from the Merchant Marines, he held several jobs in the Alexandria Bay region.

One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments was being the oldest living member of the Taylor family at age 90. His many years of chopping wood and being an outdoorsman likely aided this achievement.  He was a hardworking, independent, talented individual who liked to cleverly fix items and build things, including his home, furniture, and ice fishing shanties. In fact, one of his greatest injuries in life was suffered after he fell off his four-wheeler while transporting an extension ladder to fix the roof of his “3-day garage”, at age 85.

Other notable accomplishments include hitchhiking from Alexandria Bay to California while in the service of his country; rescuing a barge from the edge of Niagara Falls with a tugboat; being featured in NY Sportsman magazine as an accomplished Hard Water Pike Pro in the Thousand Islands Region, including a reference to his favorite homemade shanty “Thumper’s Place”; and serving as an usher at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, being fast enough with his basket to evade collection-raiding small children and to complete his aisle and the Mary Chapel in record time.

Bill is survived by daughter, Niki (Tom), Raleigh, NC, sons Clint (Roberta) Taylor, Ogdensburg, NY, and Jay Taylor, Massena, NY, from a former marriage to Cynthia Simpson; sons Brian (Blanche) Taylor, Plessis, NY, and Alan (Michele) Taylor, Plessis, NY, from a former marriage to Vera Thornton.  He was also very fond of Vera’s daughter, Sandy (John) Cranker, Alexandria Bay, NY. In addition, he is survived by a brother, Tom Taylor, Albany, NY, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Leon and Kathleen Taylor, and his sisters Marion Aznoe, Jane VanBrocklin, and Mary Ellen Weston.

Bill was an intelligent, resourceful man who lived a full, adventure-filled life. Per his wishes, the family will honor his life with a calling hour from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 27th, at the Costello Funeral Home, Alexandria Bay. A memorial service will begin at noon, with Fr. Douglas Comstock officiating. Burial to follow at Barnes Settlement Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at stjude.org, or to the Alexandria Bay Food Pantry, 42601 NYS Rte. 12, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607, alexandriathriftstore.com.