Richard Allen Taylor, 63, Outdoorsman

Richard Allen Taylor, of Lyme, CT passed away of natural causes Sunday, May 26, 2013 at the age of 63.

He was born June 2, 1949 in Mineola, N.Y.

Rick, as he was best known by his friends and family, was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, motorcycling, skeet and being outside "doing things." He was an excellent marksman and firearms enthusiast who enjoyed all aspects of the sport. He was particularly skilled at knowing how to fix or do anything: whether it was repairing gas stoves, building houses, working with State and local governments, or conducting auto repair work, to name just a few. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge that he willingly shared with everyone he knew.

Taylor is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Cynthia Taylor of Lyme; and his five children, Tara (Matthew) Ferguson of Stafford, Va., Rachel Taylor of Cape Coral, Fla., Jason (Jocelyn) Taylor of Cape Coral, Trevor Taylor (finance, Megan Glennon) of Stafford, Va., and Deke Taylor of Worcester, Mass. Sisters, Valerie (Lyn) Barker of Fountain Hills, Ariz., Nancy Bird of Syosett, N.Y., Christine (Will) Kelleher of Mastic Beach, N.Y., and Janet Gerhauser of Centerport, N.Y.; in-laws, Deke and Theo Cooksley of Lyme, Kris and Jan Magnussen of Old Lyme, David and Cyndy Cooksley of South Windsor, and Adam Cooksley of Old Lyme. He has six grandchildren, Taylor, Alexander, Annika, Olivia, Lucas and Liam; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please help honor Rick's memory by "paying it forward" to someone who needs a little help - that's who Rick was and will remain in our memories.

A service in his honor will be held at noon June 8, 2013, in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for tributes, directions and more service information.