Paul Taylor, Jr.

A visitation will be held 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday, August 14, 2015 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel for Paul H. Taylor, Jr., age 79, of Roswell, who passed away on August 12, 2015. A funeral service will be held 10:00 am, Saturday, August 15, 2015 at First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery.
Paul was born to Paul Taylor, Sr. and Thelma Taylor on August 28, 1935 in Hagerman, New Mexico. He moved continuously throughout the southwest as his father worked on many road construction projects during Paul's early years. Paul graduated from Roswell High School in 1953 as his Mother brought him back to Roswell to finish his senior year of high school. He married Sherlea McCraw in 1956 and immediately went to work as an equipment operator on road jobs in New Mexico for Armstrong Construction Company. Paul and Sherlea's 59th wedding anniversary was quietly celebrated earlier this month. They did everything together from the very start as Paul worked the construction site while Sherlea kept the books and raised a family. They decided to settle in Roswell in the late 1950's when Paul went to work for Roswell Ready Mix where he worked for ten years as a concrete salesman. In 1964, Sherlea decided to get her real estate license and begin what was ultimately to be her longstanding career in real estate. Paul encouraged Sherlea to try real estate first as he believed he needed a steady paycheck to support his young family. Sherlea's early success encouraged Paul to make the leap into the real estate business a year later. They formed their first company and appropriately named it Taylor Real Estate. They had a small office in the Monterrey Shopping Center on West Second Street. Their timing was impeccable as Walker Air Force Base had recently closed and the Roswell economy was severely distressed. With Paul's construction background and the ability to fix anything, they were able to obtain the Veterans Administration Property Management contract and inspected and repaired over 500 Government residential home foreclosures the VA had in inventory due to the base closure. While Paul managed the inventory, Sherlea found buyers where and when she could. The contract with the VA allowed them to survive and open their new office at the remodeled Conoco service station at 200 West Second with a name change. Taylor and Taylor Realtors conducted business from that location for many years and sold hundreds of properties along the way. Paul and Sherlea expanded their business partnership from residential brokerage to construction and development as well. Paul was responsible for developing many areas in Roswell. As they progressed and enlarged their real estate holdings they not only moved to 400 West Second to a larger facility but, Paul also managed to successfully develop such projects as Quail Village Townhomes, North Springs Townhomes, many complete streets in Delta Acres, Vista Parkway, and the three phases of Berrendo Meadows Subdivision. His light construction company built many school additions and fire stations in communities throughout the State as well as numerous commercial and light industrial properties along College Boulevard in Roswell. Hand in hand Paul and Sherlea made their mark in real estate and in Roswell.
Many life experiences influenced Paul as a young boy traveling around effectively as an itinerant work family on road construction projects. The example set by his father, Paul Taylor, Sr., on how to work was the primary one. Paul Jr. was a tireless worker just as his father was before him. Another lesson he learned was the value of a good education. He really did not have the best conditions or opportunity to earn the education he felt in later years he should have obtained. He solved that problem in his adult life by settling in a community for a lifetime, trained his sons on how to work as his Dad trained him, and made a college education a requirement for his boys and not in any way an option. Both sons graduated from New Mexico Military Institute. His youngest son went on to graduate from the from University of Texas at Austin and this oldest son graduated from The United States Military Academy at West Point. When Paul was seven (7) years old, he told his mother that he was going to buy her a ranch someday. She lived to see him fulfill his promise as he acquired a number of ranches and farms in southeast New Mexico in the 1990's. Taylor Ranch is a cattle and sheep operation in Chaves County that was dear to his heart the last twenty years of his productive life. Along the way, Paul served two terms as a Roswell City Councilor in the 1980's, was Realtor of the Year in 1977 and president of the Roswell Board of Realtors. He served as president of the Cancer Society, president of the New Mexico Horse's Breeder Association of 2003, Berrendo Middle School PTA and coached little league baseball for years. At the time of his passing he was President of the Conner Christian Scholarship Foundation which provides educational scholarships to Christian High School students throughout the State.
Paul was a good man who worked hard throughout his life. At his passing, he was a little over two weeks shy of his 80th birthday. He was fortunate to be able to work even the last day of his life as he checked his mares and their colts at one farm, stacked hay with his tractor at another and checked on his latest construction project on the third. Paul Taylor, Jr. was a kind man that loved his family, all of his horses fast and slow and always placed others ahead of himself. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.....
Paul Jr., was preceded in death by his loving parents Paul Taylor, Sr. and Thelma Taylor as well as his beloved sister Pauline Holstun.
Left behind to cherish his precious memory is his devoted wife and partner to eternity, Sherlea Taylor, as well as their two sons, Paul Taylor, III and his wife Terri Eachus Taylor and L. Todd Taylor all of Roswell, and the absolute joy of his life, Paige Taylor, his only grandchild of Fort Worth, Texas.
Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Friday, August 14, 2015
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Service

Funeral

First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania
Roswell, NM  88201
Saturday, August 15, 2015
10:00 am

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203