Wayne Windsor Taylor

On Sunday, December 17^th, 2023, Wayne Windsor Taylor, 77, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico passed away after prolonged illnesses. 

Wayne was the son of Wayne W. Taylor, Senior and Thusnelda Taylor, born on May 30, 1946 in Los Angeles, CA. Wayne Senior taught English as a foreign language in Latin America and then was later hired as a diplomat for U.S.I.S. Wayne grew up in Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, and Guatemala.  He graduated from Academia Arguello in Cordoba, Argentina in 1964. Wayne attended Ohio State University, earning a B.A. in psychology in 1968. 

Wayne worked as a sales representative for Kellogg Sales Co. from 1969-1975 taking a leave of absence from 1969 to 1971 for military service in Germany, where he earned commendation medals in the Armored Tank Division of the U.S. Army. 

After working for Kellogg, he held district manager sales positions for Helene Curtis and then Max Factor. During this time, he fell in love with the southwest, and, in 1990, decided to settle in Rio Rancho, where he became a Farmers’ Insurance agent until he retired in 2014. 

In New Mexico, he was able to pursue his interests: camping, boating, biking, geocaching, reading voraciously about the history of the southwest and, in particular, the railroad industry.  He was a collector of railroad cars and built a model railroad town in his home. 

Wayne had an extraordinary love of animals, especially dogs, and his family remembers him bringing home strays throughout his childhood, and convincing his parents to take them in. He was always very persuasive.  Since his retirement, he has been dedicated to helping the rescue centers in New Mexico, especially Enchantmutts and Watermelon Ranch.  He was truly “dogs’ best friend.”

Wayne is preceeded in death by his father, Wayne W. Taylor, Senior and his mother, Thusnelda Taylor.  He is survived by his sister, Valerie Taylor-Pierce of Longmont, Colorado and her children, Andrea Taylor Pierce of Bennett, Colorado and Nicholas (Nic) John Pierce of Longmont, Colorado. 

The family will be having a Celebration of Life sometime soon for close friends and family and will send invitations as soon as they are able to set a date. They would like to extend their gratitude for the support they have received at this time.