Leslie Perley Taylor

Les” Leslie Perley Taylor, 89

1929-2018

Gray- Les passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Oct. 10, 2018 at Coastal Manor. He was born in New Gloucester, Maine to Perley and Eleanor (Sawyer) Taylor the first of three children. He attended school in New Gloucester and Gray where he was active in sports, especially a catcher in baseball graduating in 1947 from Pennell Institute in Gray. In the fall of 1947 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and spent the next 9 nine years in the Corps.  After a tour of duty in the Korean War, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and discharged in Jan 1957 as a Staff Sergeant. He returned to Maine where he met his wife, Helen when they both worked at Cumberland Motor Sales, the local Ford Garage. They were married Nov 15, 1958. After he left the garage, he worked with his dad at Bridge Construction, Lolley’s Body Shop, Milt’s Auto Body, and Henley Kimball in Portland where he was a mechanic and then as parts manager for their Mercedes dealership until they closed. Later he worked for Sebago Lake Garage, Goodwin’s Chevrolet, Bean and Conquest and Dunn’s Auto in Gray before he fully retired. Les spent a total of 16 years in the military including time in the Army Reserves, Navy Reserves, the Maine State Guard and the Maine State Police Reserves. He was very involved and a life member in many veterans organizations including The American Legion Post #86 in Gray, the VFW in Hiram where he was Post Commander, VFW Past Department Commander and Aide to the National Commander, he held many local offices in the AMVETS Post #6 in New Gloucester, and AMVETS Department of Maine where he was Dept. Commander in 2002-2003 and 2010. He currently was involved in the Department of Maine Service Foundation Calendar Books.  He was a charter member of the Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a former Kora Temple Shrine member and a member of the Marine Corps League. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen and their four children; Russell Taylor, Scott Taylor (wife Janet), Sherri Taylor and Dianne Taylor (fiancé Jared Antill), 9 grandsons; Casey, Jeremy, Matthew, Brian, Ryan, Jeffrey, Dylan, Evan, and Noah, as well as several great grandchildren, his brother Ralph Taylor (wife Mary) and several nieces and nephews. Les was predeceased by his son Glenn Taylor and his daughter Deborah Taylor from a previous marriage, and his sister Merilyn Adler. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. The family wants to thank Coastal Manor and Beacon Hospice for their care and help. Visiting hours will be held at Wilson Funeral Home in Gray on Wednesday, Oct 17th from 5-8pm with a graveside service Thursday, Oct 18th 11am at Gray Village Cemetery refreshments to follow downstairs at the American Legion in Gray. In Lieu of flowers please make a donation to either the American Legion Post #86 in Gray or the AMVETS Post #6 in New Gloucester.

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