Edward Isham Taylor

Edward Isham Taylor, 82, of North Powder, died Dec. 24 at his home surrounded by family. A celebration of Ed's life will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Powder Valley High School gymnasium. The committal service with military honors and Masonic rites will follow at North Powder Cemetery.

Ed was born Aug. 26, 1928, to Isham and Miriam (Pierce) Taylor in North Powder. Ed graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1947. He participated in all sports and still holds the school record for the 100-yard dash at 10.0 seconds, which will never be broken since the sprint is now measured in meters.

Ed worked at Harris Pine and North Powder Pine and for the U.S. Forest Service prior to being drafted. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 while the U.S. occupied Germany.

After serving in the military he returned to North Powder, where he spent time working at the North Powder Pine Co. before his political appointment to postmaster by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. Ed retired in 1989 after 26 years with the U. S. Postal Service, and spent his winters near Yuma, Ariz.

In 1958, Ed married DeEtte Montgomery. Together they had three children: Tim, Carla and Jane.

After his wife, DeEtte, died in 1977, Ed married Maurine Nicholson, from Chinook, Mont. During this time, Ed and Maurine were fortunate to travel to several countries.

Ed was active in his civic responsibilities, including being a member of the Masonic Lodge and actively participating in the East-West Shriners football game. He was a member of the North Powder Volunteer Fire Department and Lions Club and was elected and served several years for the school board and city council.

Ed is survived by his brother, Thomas W. Taylor; sister, Phyllis and her husband, Dan Looslie; son, Tim and his wife, Dana Taylor; daughters, Carla "CT" Taylor and Jane and her husband, Mike Wisdom; several grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Ed is also survived by his wife, Maurine; and her children, Jan and John Sturgeon, Tom and Sheri Nicholson, Dick and Nellie Jo Nicholson, Deb and Rick Smith, Bob and Diana Nicholson, and Bill and Rochelle Nicholson; 18 step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Barnett; parents, Isham and Miriam; and his wife, DeEtte.

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