Lawrence William Taylor

Lawrence William Taylor passed to Glory on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Private Burial has taken place at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, New Mexico. His celebration of life memorial will take place at 10:00am on Saturday, September 27 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel, 900 S Main ST, Roswell, New Mexico. All are welcome. Reverand Darrell Kelley (son in-law), associate pastor of Trinity Church in Franklin, North Carolina will officiate.

Lawrence was born March 10, 1928, to William (Bud) and Norma Taylor, in Roswell, New Mexico. By the age of 5, he was riding fence and helping out on the ranch. He remained a cowboy at heart, all of his life. Attending the University of New Mexico, he was awarded membership in the Letterman’s Club as a football team player and took part in the Pineapple Bowl (now known as the Hula Bowl) in Hawaii. Later, he graduated from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. He also was appointed midshipman in the Naval Reserve of the United States Navy.

On October 30, 1948, he married his lifelong Love, Bettie Joan Citty Taylor and together they raised four daughters. Lawrence started with Southwestern Public Service as a worker jackhammering up the streets. He was pinpointed very fast as a leader and chosen to move into training for management. They moved from Roswell to Amarillo, Texas where he advanced in the electric company- ultimately serving as the director of the substation. When his girls were all through high school and his parents needed his care, he and Joan moved back to Roswell. Leaving Amarillo after 15 years was difficult as they had made many friends. Roswell was home and Lawrence remained with SPS where he became the Division Supervisor and retired in 1993 after over 40 years. What an amazing celebration was held. SPS became Xcel and he was always grateful to work for such an outstanding company.

Throughout all of his years, he was most dedicated to God, Joan and his family. The most cherished times were vacations, holidays, and any day with one of his daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sister, and wife. Hunting, fishing, camping, and horses were huge loves, and his horseback riding trips with his brother Ben (Adrienne) and Joan providing hundreds of hilarious stories. Family reunions were his Superbowl, and the laughter was rampant. He loved watching grandchildren play ball, dance, sing, play instruments, act in a play, perform at school, and was there every time invited. He will always be remembered as the man with the

best advice. The one who felt responsible for his entire family and wanted everyone to excel. Traditions, values, integrity, honesty and loyalty mattered.

Above all he looked to God and Jesus Christ for guidance and in true belief as his Lord and Savior. He was respected as an honest, fair, and kind man ending ever day with “Today has been a Good day, thank you for everything you have done for me.”

After almost 76 years married, Lawrence said goodbye to Joan in 2024 as she went to Heaven first. He talked daily about joining her and reminiscing with hundreds of stories. He loved his life and was grateful for everyone in it.

Along with his wife Joan, he was preceded in death by his daughter Sara (Jim); Grandson Adam; Son in-law, Gary Cook (Linda); Sister Alice Nell; and his parents, Bud and Norma Taylor. He also lost numerous in-laws, whom he loved dearly.

Lawrence is survived by daughters, Linda, Jane (Darrell), and Laura (Lyle); Brothers, Clarence, Ben (Adrienne) and Loyd (Carolyn) Taylor; Grandchildren, Catherine Earley (Jon), John Cook (Sarah), Carolyn Macdonald (Brian), Mark Wood, Sarah Gagnon (Eric), and Chelsea McSparren Evans (Dylan); 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter.

Please join us at 10:00 am Saturday, September 27th at LaGrone Funeral Chapel to remember Lawrence.