TAYLOR John Jackson Taylor "Jay" John Jackson Taylor, "Jay" to all who knew and loved him, died peacefully at home in Decatur, GA on March 3, 2022, surrounded by his beloved family. Mr. Taylor was a Marine, a naval aviator, a diplomat, author, and historian. He was also a loving and devoted husband to Betsy Rose, the love of his life and his wife of 62 years. With his extraordinary zest for life, his large and compassionate heart, and his instinctual generosity, he was a source of inspiration, support and encouragement to so many. Mr. Taylor's significant contributions to current scholarship on the history of Taiwan and China are among the legacies of his rich and abundant life. Mr. Taylor was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 4, 1931, to Annie Laurie Cain and Alfred Wesley Taylor. He had one older brother, Alfred Jr. When he was still small, the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where his father, a lawyer, worked in the insurance industry. At the age of 16, Mr. Taylor entered Vanderbilt University, and after graduating in 1953 he joined the Navy, becoming an air cadet. While training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, he met his beautiful bride-to-be, Betsy Rose, at a chance encounter in the Café du Monde in New Orleans. She was a nursing student at Touro Nursing School. After a first date at Antoine's Restaurant, which was quite a splurge on a cadet's salary, they never looked back and were married four months later. Mr. Taylor then switched to the Marine Corps, becoming a helicopter pilot, and served in Japan and California. In 1957 he joined the US Foreign Service. During his 37-year career with the Department of State, the couple had nine postings around the world, and Jay rose to the highest rank of the Senior Foreign Service. Highlights of his career include serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Intelligence, a member of the National Security Council, and Chief of the US Mission in Havana, Cuba. During his diplomatic career, he wrote three books on international relations. After he retired, he wrote and directed a PBS documentary on South Africa and wrote two more books, including The Generalissimo, a biography of the Chinese leader Chiang Kai Shek. It won the prestigious Gelber Prize as "The 2010 best book on international relations," and was described by the Washington Post as "magisterial" and The Economist as "enthralling." Mr. Taylor frequently contributed op-eds on world affairs to The Washington Post, The New York Times and The LA Times. He was also a prolific poet, penning verse on occasions both great and small for his family, and especially for his wife, Betsy Rose, whom he considered his muse. Together they built and nurtured a large and loving family, which he called The Golden Horde. Mr. Taylor is survived by all the members of The Golden Horde, including his four children and their spouses - John Taylor and Jeannette Walls, Laurie and Joel Rice, Amy and Jim Scully, and Cynthia and David Young; his nine grandchildren and their spouses - Jessica Taylor, Taylor (Michelle) Peck, Myles (Cali) Peck, Emily Cummins, Jack (Rikki) Scully, Nate Scully, Ayston Scully, Savannah Young and Gabrielle Young; his step-grandson Towers Rice (Maureen); his eight great-grandchildren - Olivia, Charlotte, Cameron, Havana, Evelyn, Nolan, Camille, and Trevi; his brother-in-law David Rose; his niece Ann Rose; and his nephew Andy (Laura) Taylor and their children Will (Alice) and Kyle. He will also be missed by Karen Brown, his editorial assistant and dear friend. Mr. Taylor's beloved wife passed away in 2017, and it gives the family great comfort to know the two are reunited. He liked to imagine Betsy saying, "What took you so long?" Mr. Taylor's inurnment will be in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery, where he and Mrs. Taylor will be laid to rest together, with full military honors. The date of this service is yet to be scheduled. The family suggests that donations in Mr. Taylor's honor be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an institution which he supported for decades.The family suggests that donations in Mr. Taylor's honor be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an institution which he supported for decades.

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Published by The Washington Post on Mar. 8, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN TAYLOR

4 Entries

Karen Brown

March 23, 2022

I send comfort and deepest sympathies to the Taylor family as they grieve the loss of the patriarch of their amazing family. I had the unexpected and enlightening experience of working as an editorial assistant to Mr. Taylor -- "Jay," over the past three years. Our daily work together quickly transformed into a unique friendship as we worked on a plethora of projects. He was one of a kind and I feel so honored to have spent so much quality time with him in the latter years of his life getting to know him and receiving a glimpse of his long, adventurous history through his poetry, stories, books, assisting him with his memoir, and just "being" with him. His abiding curiosity about life, people, and the world were so refreshing and interesting and he quickly became a mentor. With his open heart and refreshing, upbeat attitude he also became a dear friend. He will always have a special place in my heart-my dear 90-year old friend, the storyteller, Jay Taylor.

William Andreas Brown (retired Ambassdor)Tel 703-350-8278

March 9, 2022

My condolences to the Taylor Family on the passing of Jay, a fellow Marine,Chinese language officer,diplomat with whom I served so many years.Please tell me when the Arlington National cemetery ceremony date is determined so that I can attend and pay my deep respect .

William F. Rope

March 9, 2022

Jay Taylor was a wonderful man -- kind, cheerful, wise, and possessed with great and an often understated, even impish sense of humor. I was fortunate to know him both as a professional colleague, in the U.S. Foreign Service and as a friend. We were "China Watchers" in Hong Kong, together, both before and after the historic Nixon Visit, and our friendship and mutual admiration dating from those days lasted over half a century. He and Betsy were particularly supportive of my wife Priscilla and me during our Hong Kong days, and that friendship, too, lasted until and beyond the end of Betsy's life.

Jay was a creative thinker who could see the "big Picture" in ways others might miss but who was also an analyst with a sharp eye for important detail. His books on Chiang Kai-shek and on Chiang's son and successor Chiang Ching-kuo were masterpieces; and his life-long prolificacy as a writer of prose and poetry were truly remarkable. I am glad that in my last conversation with him, only a month or so ago, he was still his old self; and the photo in this obituary captures his warm and handsome face just as Priscilla and I knew it both in olden days and recent years.

We are greatly saddened by Jay's passing. We'll miss seeing him in Washington or Decatur. We're happy, however, to think of Jay and Betsy together and to have so many good memories of his life well-lived. We loved him.

We are sending a donation to St. Jude's in Jay's and Betsy's name.

Melissa Black

March 8, 2022

How honored I was to meet Mr. Taylor, to share his home for a short time, to get to know one of his beloved daughters and to become family. He was indeed so generous and kind, full of life and beautiful memories. Even in the short time I knew him, it was clear to me how deeply he loved--everyone! His family, his friends, his country, anyone he met. With all his experience seeing the world, working with governments, studying history-- this never seemed to lead him to cynicism. On the contrary, he exuded optimism and courage to make the world a better place. I will treasure each of the memories I have of him. May his family be blessed even as they grieve his loss.

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