Obituary: Duke Taylor
Provided Photo
February 21, 1956 – January 7, 2024
Duke Owen Taylor passed away unexpectedly on January 7, 2024, at the age of 67, at his home in Basalt, Colorado. He was born to Gene Owen Taylor and Nancy Ann Taylor in Boulder, Colorado on February 21, 1956. He graduated from Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado in 1974. Duke went on to play baseball for several colleges, including Pepperdine University and University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California and Lamar College in Lamar, Colorado.
Duke returned to Grand Junction and began working at his father’s store in Snowmass, Colorado, eventually becoming the owner of the store. On the 50th anniversary of Gene Taylor’s Sports’ Snowmass store in 2020, he was quoted in the Aspen Times, ” I swore I’d never take this as a career, I just needed a job at 23, but I stayed because it’s just fun and it’s just a great place to be.”
In 1985, Duke married Kim Taylor in Snowmass Village, Colorado and the pair had two children together.
Duke was an avid skier and would get on the mountain at every opportunity. He loved nature and the beauty of his home state of Colorado. His love of baseball was unmatched and something he shared with his father, siblings, children, and grandchildren. He volunteered as a youth baseball coach with the American Legion Team in Grand Junction for a few years. His work brought him into contact with countless skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world spanning decades, many of which became life-long friends. One of the events he was most proud to be a part of was hosting military veterans in conjunction with the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. He enjoyed cheering on the Denver Broncos with his mother and youngest sister and visiting his daughters and grandchildren – Duke could never turn down a good road trip.
Duke is survived by Kim Taylor and his daughters, Elli Taylor and Haley Baker (Adam). His grandchildren, Desmond Baker, Penelope Baker, and Ford Baker. His mother, Nancy Taylor. His siblings, Amy Dyer (Jon), Marshal Taylor (Irene), Jenny Parsons (Scott), Tony Taylor (Shelly), and Roseanna Taylor. His nieces and nephews, colleagues, and friends – so great in number that it would not be possible to list them all. The loving impact that Duke had on the world cannot be measured and he will truly be missed by all that had the pleasure to know him.
An intimate Celebration of Life service will be announced by the family at a later date. A Celebration of life organized by his colleagues at Gene Taylor’s Sports will take place on April 6th, 2024 at 4:00 P.M. at the Snowmass Chapel in Snowmass Village, Colorado:
Snowmass Village Chapel
5307 Owl Creek Road
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
Duke’s family has created a memorial website for those that knew him to post photos, memories, and condolences. Visit duketaylormemorial.com if you wish to pay respects to this incredible man.
