George Melvin Taylor Sr. Obituary (1931 - 2008)

Calais – George Melvin Taylor Sr. passed away on June 13th, 2008 at a Bangor hospital after a brief battle with esophageal cancer. George was born in Pembroke on July 12, 1931, 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 Conflict as a Radar Technician and was stationed at several bases in the United States. Upon being discharged, he married Jean Tarbell at the First Methodist Church in Milltown, Maine, on May 11, 1952 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 the 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 the Knights of Pythias, J.C.’s, Calais City Council, The Methodist Homes, Calais Regional Hospital and various committees with the Calais United Methodist Church. He took great pride in his involvement 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; 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 the Calais United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Calais Cemetery. Donations in George’s memory may be made to the Calais United Methodist Church, 839 Main St., Calais, ME 04619 or the American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Memorials: Donations in George’s memory may be made to the Calais United Methodist Church, 839 Main St., Calais, ME 04619 or the American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Cemetery: Calais Cemetery South St. Calais, ME 04619 (map/driving directions) Visitations: 2:00PM to 4:00PM on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at Mays Funeral Home (map/driving directions) 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at Mays Funeral Home (map/driving directions) Services: 11:00AM at Calais United Methodist Church on Monday, June 16th, 2008 (map/driving directions)