Larry Taylor 11/06/1951 - 4/15/2026

Lawrence J. Taylor, known to friends and family as "Larry," passed from this life on April 15, 2026, after a battle with Alzheimer's. Born in San Francisco in 1951, he lived 74 wonderful years. Larry grew up in Santa Rosa, and moved back to this area recently, after having lived near Auburn, California, for many years. As a boy in Rincon Valley, Larry participated in YMCA Indian Guides, Scouts, and was a standout athlete, swimming for the Oak Park Otters and for Montgomery High School (he was the North Bay League champion in breaststroke). He also played Little League baseball and ice hockey (at the original Santa Rosa Ice Arena). He attended Rincon Valley Elementary School (now known as Douglas Whited Elementary), then Slater Junior High and Rincon Valley Junior High, then Montgomery High. Larry loved people and was known to everyone as an easy-going, lovable guy. Kindness and good humor defined his way of relating to everyone. He also loved working with machines, from building go-karts and motorized scooters when he was young, to rebuilding cars, and on into his career as a jet aircraft mechanic. During summer vacation from high school one year, Larry went to Eloy, Arizona, and stayed with his aunt and uncle, working and learning on heavy machinery—trucks, tractors and farm combines—with Uncle J. C. "Jake" Jenkins. After graduation from high school, he did some coursework at SRJC. Then he entered the United States Navy, getting trained as an aircraft mechanic and serving at Miramar Naval Air Station and on the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier during Vietnam (1972-74). He graduated second in his class from Northrup University's Airframe & Powerplant certification program, then began a long career working for Cessna Aviation—with postings to Sacramento, Peru, and Europe. &emsp;&emsp; He established a record of expertise and trust, ensuring that Cessna's jets were ready to fly. And in later years, he rose into management and served as the safety & HazMat inspector at Cessna's Sacramento plant. &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp; Larry also loved boating and water skiing, and he entertained visitors to his house outside Auburn by taking them out on the Lake of the Pines, Lake Shasta, and the Sacramento River. He also loved going to music concerts—the Doors, the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and others. After retiring at age 56, he spent his time on the lake or traveling the country in his RV. Well loved by a wide circle of friends, Larry is survived by his siblings—Carla Marestein, Brian Taylor, Duane Taylor, Ron Taylor, and their spouses and children. A celebration of life is being planned, to occur in the Santa Rosa area. Date and location will be available at a later time.