H. Earl Taylor Jr.'s Obituary
H. Earl Taylor Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
In his own words, we have lost “a jack of all trades and master of some.” Earl a.k.a. “E.T.” was a fun, adventurous, creative, passionate, kind, humorous, loving and giving husband, father, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin and friend to many. His smile and good humor will be missed by everyone.
He was born in Dallas on March 9, 1946, grew up in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. Earl earned the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1964 where he was a track star. He always loved the water and taught many friends how to water ski on lakes around Dallas. Although none of them were able to master his signature move of water skiing on an oar!
“The louder the better”. From an early age, music played an important role in Earl’s life. He loved all kinds of music whether he was listening, watching or playing. In his youth, he played rhythm guitar in the Dallas-based band The Cavaliers and sang and managed the Austin-based band The Kegs. His favorite artists ranged from Bob Dylan and the Beatles to the Everly Brothers and the Eagles. His lifelong love of music continued as patron of the Dallas Summer Musicals for over 25 years.
Earl loved numbers and earned a B.A. in Mathematics/Business from the University of Texas at Austin in 1968 where he was an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Always an “orange blood”, he closely followed Texas Longhorns Football, attending many games and tailgates in Austin and beyond including when they “almost” won the National Championship Game in the Rose Bowl in 2009. Nothing was better than the annual TX-OU game bookended by Fletcher’s Corny Dogs!
A true pioneer in Information Technology, Earl started his career as an Operations Analyst at Dallas Water Utilities where he designed and delivered maintenance systems. He also served as a Systems and Sales Representative with RCA’s Computer Systems Division and as a Management Consultant for the University of Texas at Arlington. A career opportunity took him next to Real Estate where he became President of the Preston Carter Company in 1972.
He returned to the IT field, and in 1977 received a M.S. in Computer Science/Business from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) where he was also an Instructor. In 1979, he joined Atlas Powder Company and served in various leadership roles ranging from Director of Data Processing and Director of Financial Operations to Director of Marketing and Vice President of Administration.
After Atlas was acquired by ICI Explosives in 1990, Earl served as ICI’s Vice President of Information Technology in North America, Business Director of Bulk products andfounded the Blaster’s Tool & Supply Company which services explosives distributors to this day. Many of his Atlas colleagues fondly remember Earl as a gentleman and a class act.They always looked forward to events that Earl led for the company. After 20 years with Atlas/ICI, Earl capitalized on his expertise to become an Explosives Insurance Client Advisor for Texas AGA, Inc.
On a blind date arranged by mutual friends in 1978, Earl met the love of his life LaWanda. They married on April 26, 1979, in a surprise wedding with family and friends. This new expanded family provided Earl joy, and many gatherings to joke and display his fun-loving character.
Earl loved to travel and made many R&R side trips while traveling for business. Earl and LaWanda enjoyed vacations to the beaches, mountains and on cruises. Favorites were
Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Kauai, HI; Destin, FL; Ruidoso, NM; Estes Park, CO, Cancun, Mexico; and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
In 1985, Earl and LaWanda moved the family “out to the country” in Fairview, TX where they developed lifelong friendships and volunteered for school, church and community activities. In 1999, they moved back home to roots in Dallas. Always willing to lend a hand, Earl was President of the Royal Way Homeowners Association and helped manage the beautiful common area pool. He had a unique approach to maintenance and always believed that a can of paint could fix anything!
E.T. was all about creating memorable experiences for everyone with “big reveal” moments. Whether leading the Powderman Olympics, playing DJ at Atlas Company Picnics, hosting client events at the International Society of Explosives Engineers meetings representing Texas AGA, celebrating family birthdays at Benihana, cruising the lake at the wheel of his pontoon boat with his kids and grandchildren or creating detailed itineraries for his sister when she visited Dallas.
In 2005, Earl and LaWanda bought a lakehouse on Lake Cypress Springs where they enjoyed hosting family and friends, making indelible memories from boating, tubing, Sea-Dooing, kayaking, taking walks, grilling out and enjoying local restaurants. Granddad Earl/Poppy-T and Mimi always made every moment special with unique traditions like S’mores, Bass Pro Shirts and painting birdhouses.
Earl courageously fought a seven-month battle against Stage 4 Duodenal Adenocarcinoma - a very rare but fast spreading small intestine cancer. Our heartfelt thanks to the countless doctors, nurses, techs, chaplains, social workers and support staff at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Texas Oncology-Baylor, Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas as well as the doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and caregivers from VITAS Healthcare, Cambridge Caregivers and Garden of Eden for their compassionate care for Earl and our family on this journey.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents Sally Alden Howard Taylor, H. Earl Taylor Sr. M.D. and his daughter, Kate Alden Taylor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, LaWanda McGilberry Taylor of Dallas; sister Barbara Alden Taylor of New York, NY; son William E. “Dub” Taylor (Mona) of Austin; daughter Wendi Taylor Fuller (Derek) of Dallas, one grandson, three granddaughters, seven nephews, three nieces, numerous cousins and in-laws and countless friends and colleagues.
A Celebration of Life Service followed by a graveside burial will be held on Monday, August 23, 2021, at 10 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel at Restland Memorial Park at 13005 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75243. The service will follow COVID-19 protocols (masking required) and will also be live streamed. Rev. Joe Stobaugh, Senior Pastor at University Park United Methodist Church will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Earl can be made to UT Southwestern Medical Center http://engage.utsouthwestern.edu/donate-now under designation select Simmons Cancer Center and under the special instructions category type in for GI Cancer research.
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