Keith Taylor

Keith Taylor
October 6, 1964 - April 22, 2023

Keith Douglas Milton Taylor passed away peacefully with family by his side April 22, 2023 in Wetaskiwin, Alberta after a courageous battle with cancer. Keith was born at 10:33 am to Lois and Milton Taylor on October 6, 1964 in Regina, Saskatchewan. In his early childhood, Keith lived in Smeaton, the Hansen Lake Road, Air Ronge and North Side. When he was 10 the Taylor family settled in the tiny Saskatchewan Highways outpost, known as Timber Cove, eight miles north of the Waskesiu turnoff.

In his youth, Keith was a talented goalie, and many teams sought after him for his skills. These teams would drive all the way to Timber Cove to pick him up before driving another long distance to play. In his first apartment, his goalie pads would serve as a couch. 

It was in his childhood that his lifelong love of comic books developed. He amassed a large comic book collection as an adult that he treasured. He also enjoyed the D.C. and Marvel movies and would talk about and analyze these with anyone who was interested. Card games and Chess were other interests. He was competitive and relished wiping the floor with any competitor.

Keith began experimenting with cooking at home, he learned to put together a delicious meal with whatever was in the cupboards. This interest eventually grew into his lifelong vocation. After school Keith cooked in a few restaurants and he eventually became an apprentice to become a chef. He worked hard as cook, chef, manager, supervisor, troubleshooter and more in many restaurants, including his own. 

Later in his career he chose to work at the oil rig camps in the North. He was stationed as far away as Nunavut, Yellowknife and Whitehorse. He enjoyed these adventures, and the employees that he cooked for sure appreciated his efforts! He was an excellent cook and baker, although he didn’t always enjoy cooking when he got home. Then, he would rather have takeout, a plateful of K.D. and wieners or Ichiban. In his last days, the gift of a chocolate milkshake always generated a large grin from Keith and now he and chocolate milkshakes will forever be linked.

As an adult, golfing became a passion. Keith and his wife, Cheryl, played many different golf courses and they had their favorites that they would play as often as they could. Keith’s holidays often centered around golf and he would play with/against Dad in mostly friendly competitions.

As soon as he could, Keith loved to drive. In the beginning he drove what was available. In Timber Cove he regularly took his friends or siblings on hair raising excursions on the roller coaster road with the aptly named Dead Man’s Curve. Long drives were not a struggle, he rarely got tired and said that he could have drove for a living. In the last few years Keith’s newest baby was his truck, a blue Dodge Ram Truck with a Hemi. Oh boy, did he look after that baby.

It makes sense with his interests in comics and games that when Pokémon Go came out, Keith jumped in with both feet. He connected with his daughter Samantha and his sister, Natasha while playing Pokémon. Even while he sick, he was always up to catch a Pokémon.

The loves of his life were his daughters, Samantha, Jessica and Chelsea. He spent as much time with them as possible and would go out of his way to get them what they needed or wanted. He would drive hundreds of miles to spend even a short time with them. He spoke lovingly and proudly of each of them. Heather Kirschman, his step-daughter, also had a special place in his heart. His grandchildren, Sophie, Wyatt, Gabriel and Taylor were the lights of his life. His eyes lit up when they were near and he always took the time to tell them how much they meant to him.

It is with deep sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of our son, father, husband, grandfather, brother, nephew, and friend. We will forever keep the memory of his smirking face and twinkling eyes when he was awaiting a response from a sarcastic offering or joke. He was always quick with a smart, witty comeback. Yes, we will even miss his corny Dad Jokes.

Keith was predeceased by his mom Lois Taylor (nee: Churchill) (1995), his wife Cheryl Taylor (nee: Kirschman) (March 14, 2023), Uncle Mervin Taylor, Uncle Warren Churchill, Uncle Sam Holstein, Grandparents Earl and Emma Taylor and Eric Earl Wellington and Mable Churchill.

Keith leaves to mourn, his Dad Milton Taylor, his Step-Mom Carol Churchill, his daughters Samantha Taylor, Jessica Taylor and Chelsea Danielson (Myles Anderson), his grandchildren Sophie and Wyatt Anderson, Gabriel and Taylor Kirschman, his stepdaughter Heather Kirschman, his siblings and their spouses, Anna Davies (Jim Davies), Lisa Howat (Jeff Howat), Marilyn Taylor, Shane Taylor and Natasha Taylor (Clayton Sobel), Troy Taylor (Heather Sumners), as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Canadian Cancer Society are appreciated.

A graveside service and the interment of his urn will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at the Birch Hills Cemetery (time not confirmed as of yet, please check back).  A celebration of Keith’s Life will be held at Lisa and Jeff Howat’s farm on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.

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