David Bernard Gordon Taylor

David Bernard Gordon Taylor, 84.

Born 10/26/1938 in St. Ann, Jamaica, died 02/12/2023 in Victoria, B.C. Canada, of complications related to metastatic prostate cancer.

David grew up the son of Kathleen "Maisie" (nee Gordon) and Bernard Taylor in Kingston, Jamaica. His father died unexpectedly when he was only 11 months old, and thereafter Maisie raised him with the help of her "sisters" Sylvia, Cissy and Kay, and Sylvia's children (John, Mary, Peter and Philip) were like siblings to him. Ten years later, Maisie met and married David Bogle, Sr., who lovingly cared for her until her death, and which also blessed David with a step-brother, David Bogle, Jr. His lifelong friendship with Francis Issa began in these early school years and Francis survives him.

The family later emigrated to England where David joined the Royal Air Force, serving as a cartographer mapping bomb sites, and from which he was honorably discharged with exemplary service noted. It was there he met another lifelong friend, Gordon Bishop, who also survives him. In England he met his beautiful future wife, Renate Klafki, working as an au pair from Schwartzwald, West Germany. They quickly married and had 2 daughters. The family moved first to Barbados, then back home to Jamaica where he opened his own architectural firm, designing and supervising construction of some of the most beautiful houses in Jamaica. He also designed their unique landscaping and was an avid gardener and photographer. Dad loved Queen Elizabeth and the royal family and served for years as the Monarchist Society of Victoria's Director of Newsletter. He wrote very well.

In 1975 the family emigrated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada where David worked for Petrofina, and later opened a Health Club. He continued to design homes in Jamaica and travelled there often. Family and friends could always count on great design advice from David, whether they requested it or not. In later years he moved to Alberta and became an expert in Persian carpets, achieving the title of Director of Sales. He then worked part time for Home Depot kitchen designs before retiring in Sooke, and then Victoria, B.C. He made many close friends in retirement (Tanya, Richard, Ben, Shannon, and Brendan, to name a few) who were always there for him.

He loved his family and friends, and his dog Lucky, who predeceased him recently. David was an excellent singer and loved to entertain. He was a valued former member of the choir of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Montreal, appearing in song on published cassettes and disks, and he really enjoyed performing at Karaoke venues. His last 3 months were spent living happily at Jeskin Aerie Assisted Living in Victoria where he raved about the food, made fast friends who loved to hear him sing the oldies, and inspired Katy, the director of recreation, to start a Jeskin Aerie talent show, in which sadly he did not live to perform.

He is survived by his daughters Gaby (Richard) Radcliffe and Philippa Lowes, his grandsons Austin and Ryan Lowes, his ex-wife Renate Taylor, and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Victoria General Hospital who cared so compassionately for him in his last month of life. Also, Island Health/ Community Health Services (Susan Neufeldt) who assisted him so much in retirement, and Sooke Meals on Wheels. Finally, again thanks to his good friends Richard and Ben who provided emotional support and invaluable assistance to David's family after his death upon their arrival in Victoria from afar.

David's ashes will be scattered on Monday 2/20/2023 at 11 am pacific/2 pm eastern by his Victoria friends at the river in Goldstream Provincial Park, Victoria. He asked that there be no service or flowers. Please have a toast in his memory, but if you would like to make a contribution in his name, suggested groups are Sooke Meals on Wheels (sookemow@gmail.com or 2037 Shields Rd., P.O. Box 398, Sooke, B.C. V9Z1G1), or the NANA Foundation which provides emergency funding to people who could not otherwise afford to pay the vet to save their pets (P.O. Box 41017, 5166 Cordova Bay Rd., Victoria, B.C. Canada V8Y 0A3)