Lyle Charles Taylor

August 22, 2023, Lyle Charles Taylor, husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, great-great grandpa, trail boss, legendary cowboy, and friend returned home after completing his earthly trail ride. Lyle was born on February 1, 1929, to Rudolph Teancum (Chuck) Taylor and Pearlis Caroline Nelson in Lapoint, Utah. His childhood began in Lapoint and Deep Creek during the Great Depression where he learned the value of hard work and a good name. When Lyle was in grade school, he would ride by horse every night after school to gather his uncle’s bum lambs. He raised the lambs on cow’s milk and soon had a herd of sheep. He then traded the sheep for land and his first Hereford cow. His purebred operation was underway. 

He attended Alterra High School where he was active in FFA, played the saxophone, and participated in basketball, boxing, and rodeo. Most importantly it was where he met his eternal companion, Vee. He first noticed her as the Buckaroo Park Rodeo queen in Bennett. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple 74 years ago on August 24, 1949.

Lyle graduated from USU, served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Korean Conflict. He retired from the US Department of Agriculture ASCS after 30 years. As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served as Bishop, Counselor, High Councilman, church service mission, and other church callings throughout his life. Lyle appreciated serving in the Provo and Vernal Utah Temples. Civic service included: Uintah School District Board, 4-H Leader, Cattle associations, and water boards.

He spent years taking Hereford and Red Angus bull calves to various test stations where he received recognition for his high-performing bulls. Lyle was named Legendary Cowboy of the 2003 Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo and 2008 Uintah County Nominee for the Ogden Pioneer Days National Day of the American Cowboy. He received many other community service awards. He was one of the charter members of the PDQTA (Pretty Damn Quick Team Penning Association) where he furnished cattle for penning and participated with his family and friends.

Throughout his life he has promoted and sustained the agriculture industry. His greatest legacy is his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who have learned to raise cattle, ride horses and care for the land. His best days were spent seeing a newborn calf, checking cattle on his horse, changing water, working the ranch with his family, and watching his posterity play sports.

Lyle looked forward to being the horse wrangler during summer family fishing trips. His favorite rides were in the countryside with Vee. The family ranch was his “heaven on earth.” A common phrase he used when something went wrong was “What’d ya do that for?!”

Lyle was an expert storyteller, loved the outdoors, raspberries, Almond Joys, Aggie Ice Cream, the BYU Cougars, USU Aggies, and Utah Jazz. During October, the conversation turned to one subject, hunting deer and elk. He loved to play Rook and if you were his partner, you were most likely to come away the victor.  He rarely misplayed a card, even at age 94.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, his younger sisters, Iris and Myrna, oldest son, Lyle Lamoyne, granddaughter, Trisha Taylor, grandson, Jerod Avery Christensen and great granddaughter, Sookie Agnes Walton.  He is survived by his wife Ada Vee Rasmussen Taylor, daughter-in-law, Shelley, sons, Clayton (Darla), Brent (Dawn), and daughter Julia (Michael) Ottenbacher and foster Navajo daughter, Myrtle Yazzie, sister Irene Collins, and brother-in-law Duane Richens.  His posterity also includes 22 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

We are grateful to the loving caretakers at the Uintah Care Center for helping Lyle this past year.  We express appreciation to Clayton for his dedication in taking our dear mother to visit dad whenever she wanted to go.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday August 26, 2023, at 12 noon at the Rock Point Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2575 North 1500 West in Vernal, Utah.  Viewings-Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Blackburn Mortuary, 15 East 100 North and Saturday morning from 10:45-11:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.  Interment-Rock Point Cemetery, 2250 W 2500 N with Military Honors from the American Legion Post 11.