Thomas 'Mike' Taylor

Thomas Michael “Mike” Taylor died unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in his home in Durango, Colorado.

Mike was born Dec. 3, 1939, in Cape Girardeau. He was 74 when he passed on. He was cremated shortly after his death and the remains have been buried next to his parents, Thomas Edward “Tommy” Taylor and Dorothy Juanita “Johnny” Taylor in a private ceremony at the Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Mike was their only child.

Mike grew up in Cape Girardeau, played lots of sports and went to college at the University of Missouri in Rolla, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He was really involved in working hard, which lead him to move to several states, where he lived most of his life in Ventura, California, working for the County of Ventura Flood Control — Public Works as a supervisor. He retired and then moved to Durango.

He enjoyed traveling by vehicle with his family to Cape Girardeau almost every year when he lived in Ventura to visit his parents. He loved to play golf, loved reading Louis L’Amour novels and watching westerns. He loved to camp, play sports, and he was very involved in keeping in shape by exercising, swimming and running. When he retired, he slowed down and enjoyed his beautiful ranch-style home in Durango. He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals, Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche play. He also loved to watch the deer, moose and elk come up to his sliding-glass window in the living room. The one thing he really enjoyed was the Native American culture. He was a collector of many different beautiful works of art and even knew several of the artists and Native American people who were his friends.

He is survived by his family, Diane Taylor (Peck); two daughters, Michele Phillips and Tracy Pasquotto; four grandsons, Forrest Tonsing, Cody Pasquotto, Brody Pasquotto and Taylor Meyer; and two great-granddaughters, Haylee Pasquotto and Brooklynn Pasquotto.

Please respect the family’s wishes to have a private ceremony.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.