Myles Lavar Taylor, Jr. May 18, 1939 - October 20, 2021

Myles Lavar Taylor, Jr., aged 82, had his final earthly adventure on October 20, 2021, while snorkeling in the tranquil Cabo San Lucas Bay.  He left this world in the same style he lived his life, having fun and enjoying the outdoors with his wife of 30 years, Darlene Marie Taylor.  Together, the two of them traveled the world, experiencing adventures in nearly every continent, but his favorite place was on the back of a horse in Payson Canyon, or on a backhoe creating a masterpiece, on his infamous Spanish Fork property, on the ridge of the Spanish Fork River Bottoms.

Lavar had a humble upbringing in Salt Lake City, where he was born and raised, mostly as an only child, by his parents, Evelyn Bird Taylor and Myles Lavar Taylor, Sr.  But city life was not for him, so after marrying his first wife, Karen Lucile Smith, on March 27, 1958, he put himself through auto mechanics school and ran his own successful “Taylor’s Service” Volkswagen repair and parts business in Provo, Utah.  In 1971, he purchased his Spanish Fork country property and built a home for his wife, two sons, and daughter. Eventually that property would become home to many horses, dogs, cats, buffaloes, llamas, peacocks, geese, ducks, fish, exotic birds, and other creatures.  He was never without a band of animal companions.

Although he took his family to sightsee in 49 of the 50 states, he always said he loved Utah the most.  He celebrated living in Utah through horseback riding, deer hunting, skiing, four-wheel driving, camping, river rafting, kayaking, cave exploring, repelling, motorcycling, snowmobiling, snow tubing, jet skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling.  And doing all these adventures with his wife, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids was what he loved most. He taught his family to stretch beyond comfort zones, to treat others with kindness, to work hard, and to live a life of integrity.  He never missed an opportunity to help someone in need, pick up trash (oftentimes while on the back of a horse), plow a neighbor’s driveway, or gift a treasure from his eclectic collections.

Lavar knew he met the love of his life, Darlene, when he learned she could ski backwards, was game for his crazy adventures; and, at the time, had six children and one grandchild – it gave him hope of a bigger family to rope into escapades.  They married May 24, 1991, and soon enough, Lavar became a bigger-than-life, magical grandpa to 28 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Lavar and Darlene were sealed on August 4, 2001 in the Los Angeles Temple.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene Marie Taylor; and his children: Scott Gregory (Wendy) Taylor and Shalice (Jeff) Tilton.  He was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother Jay Wilkin; and his oldest son, Denton Lavar Taylor.  In addition to his immediate family, his life was made fuller by sharing his version of this world with Darlene’s six children: Jim (Claire), Jilene (John), Dan (Heather), Sarah (Jon), Jennifer (Darek), and Julie (Steve).

Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of Lavar’s life, beginning with a horse-drawn carriage procession from Salem Stake Center, 470 East Salem Canal Road, Salem, Utah 84653, to Salem City Cemetery, 965 South 140 East, Salem, for the graveside dedication, on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 12 p.m., Following the graveside dedication, family and friends are invited to go back to the Salem Stake Cente, where there will be shared a joyful time to remember all the wonderful memories and adventures of Lavar, .