Jerry Taylor

Jerry Taylor

1931   -   2015

Jerry Robert Taylor, 83, longtime valley resident, grower and vintner, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on February 11, 2015.

Born Oct. 14, 1931, Jerry was the son of the late Jess and Velma Adams Taylor.  He grew up in the Berryessa Valley in the small community of Monticello. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War stationed in Japan.  On Dec. 17, 1955 he married the former Patricia Elaine Osborne and in 1958 purchased property on the Yountville Cross Road where they built the family home.

Jerry spent his career as an operating engineer from 1956-1993 serving at both the Kaiser yards in Napa, Oakland, and Fontana as well as job sites across Northern California and later worked for Amos and Andrews in Fairfield.  Always wanting some land, Jerry and Pat purchased 23 acres on the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District in 1976 and built their present home.  At the suggestion of friends who were in the vineyard business, and Jerry being a farmer at heart, the decision was made to plant a vineyard.  Approximately ten acres were planted in 1980 with the entire family involved--often on hands and knees, sometimes redoing what had been done when a better way was learned.   Selling their fruit to neighboring wineries for years, it was finally decided that the family would seek out great winemakers and produce their own Chardonnay and Cabernet; Taylor Family Vineyards was born. 

A loving husband, father, and papa, Jerry was always involved with his family and their interests and supported his children and grandchildren in sports, 4-H and education.  He and Pat, with a number of other couples, worked weekends and evenings laying sod and installing irrigation for a new baseball and sports field at the Yountville school--keeping in touch through the years with these parents that would become good friends and often travel companions.  Jerry enjoyed skiing, deer hunting, football, auto racing, playing softball with his church league, and had also been active with the Operating Engineers, Stags Leap District Wine Growers Association, Napa Valley Grapegrowers, and Napa Valley Vintners Associations.  Each year Jerry and Pat looked forward to reuniting with his Air Force friends and their wives in a different U.S. city chosen by the group.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Pat Taylor; three children:  Scott Taylor and his wife Kim, Sandy Carlson and her husband Phil, and Mike Taylor and his wife Susan.  Also surviving are grandchildren: Tyler, Denise, Danielle, Lisa, Addie, Travis, Doug, Kimberly, and Eric.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the Tulocay Funeral Home Chapel in Napa with the Reverend Dean Pense officiating.  Private committal will be at a later date in the historic Monticello Spanish Flat Cemetery.

The family asks that memorials be made to Napa Valley Hospice and Adult Day Services, 414 S. Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94559 in Jerry’s name.

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