CALAIS – George Melvin Taylor Sr. passed away June 13, 2008, at a Bangor hospital after a brief battle with esophageal cancer. George was born July 12, 1931, in Pembroke, the only child of Melvin and Grace (Mahar) Taylor. As a child growing up in Pembroke, he and his mother traveled regularly to Portland and Boston by train. After completing his schooling in Pembroke, George joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, as a radar technician and was stationed at several bases in the United States. Upon being discharged, he married Jean Tarbell, May 11, 1952, at First Methodist Church, Milltown, and resided in Calais. He operated a Citgo service station and later worked for Stewart’s Furniture. It was there that he found his calling and opened his own used furniture store on North Street in 1958. From there, his business prospered and he expanded to Main Street and then in 1970, moved to the present location on River Road. George was proud of his furniture business and looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of Taylor’s Furniture this July. George gave generously of his time to many boards and organizations through the years. These included Knights of Pythias, J.C.’s, Calais City Council, the Methodist Homes, Calais Regional Hospital and various committees with Calais United Methodist Church. He took great pride in his involve-ment with building the new Methodist church in Calais. While George enjoyed automobiles, hunting, fishing and his family, his real joy was meeting the people in and around his business. His motto, “Where every customer is a personal friend,” summed it up best. In 1996 he married Helen Marshall and they resided together on Taylor Lane, until his passing. In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, George and Mabel Mahar, who were instrumental in helping raise him in his early years; his first wife, Barbara Jean (Tarbell) Taylor; and several family members near and dear to his heart. Surviving are his wife, Helen Taylor of St. Stephen, New Brunswick; his only son, George Taylor Jr. and his wife, Regina, of Calais; and his grandson, Chris Taylor. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. A celebration of George’s life will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Calais United Methodist Church. Burial will be after at Calais Cemetery. Donations in George’s memory may be made to Calais United Methodist Church, 839 Main St., Calais, ME 04619 or the American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.maysfuneralhome.com.
GEORGE M. TAYLOR SR.
