James Taylor Sr., 68, Lifelong Woodbury Resident and Professional Toolmaker

The following obituary of Woodbury resident James Taylor Sr., 68, is from Munson-Lovetere Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Inc.:

James Taylor Sr., 68, of Woodbury, died Monday, February 27, at Wolcott View Manor in Wolcott. He was the widower of Colleen (Moran) Taylor.

Mr. Taylor was born April 29, 1948, son of Raymond and Beverly (Cummer) Taylor of Woodbury. He was a 1966 graduate of Woodbury High School and attended Kaynor Technical Institute. He worked his entire career as a toolmaker, beginning with an apprenticeship at the Anaconda American Brass Company. Among the many companies he worked for were Lux Time, Milldale and Duracell, where he met his second wife, Colleen.

His greatest joys in life were long motorcycle rides, trips to Vermont, boating on Candlewood Lake and Bantam Lake, and hunting and fishing. Later in life he enjoyed going to Nick's in Bethlehem every morning for breakfast and coffee. He was an accomplished auto mechanic who spent much of his life working on and modifying cars, and was particularly fond of a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396, which he used to race. He loved animals, particularly white German Shepherds and cats.

Mr. Taylor is survived by two sons, James Taylor Jr. of Woodbury, with whom he made his home, and Jordan Taylor and his wife, Kate, of Burlington, Vt.; a stepson, Matthew Troia and his wife, Heidi, of Seattle, Wash.; a grandson, Jack Taylor of Burlington, Vt., with a second grandchild due in July; a brother, Raymond Taylor and his wife, Barbara, of Woodbury; a sister, Nancy Hatstat and her husband, Bud, of Woodbury; his first wife, Holly Heebner Taylor; two nieces and two nephews; and close friend of the family Jaimie Cura.

Besides his second wife, Colleen, and his parents, he was predeceased by a stepdaughter, Renay Troia.
The family would like to thank the Dr. Marc Ciampi of Waterbury, Dr. Casey Ott of Southbury, Woodbury Ambulance Association; Hartford Healthcare; and Wolcott View Manor for all their care and assistance.

Calling hours will be conducted from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School Street, Woodbury, followed by a graveside service in North Cemetery at 11:15 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Woodbury Ambulance Association, 426 Main Street North, Woodbury, CT. 06798; or the Woodbury Fire Department, 25 Quassuk Road, Woodbury, CT 06798.