Elwood Taylor

My grandfather, Elwood Taylor, passed away a few days ago. He was 88 and died of a stroke that struck him suddenly and rendered him brain dead for a few days until they removed the respirator and he passed in 30 minutes. He was married to his wife Margret for 64 years. I have many fond memories of my grandpa, Elwood.

1. He was always deaf as a rock, so you had to shout anything for him to hear you. The only person who he could really understand was his wife, Maggie and her shrill voice always cut through to his comprehension.

2. His always asking me, "Ya got some hair on your chest yet?", and "Are you going to keep her?" (in reference to my wife Kim)

3. He would always make up random songs about the Lord and "sing" them (I use the word sing here very loosely) to all who would listen. I think this was his form of preaching.

4. He never was one for much sublty or social grace in his statements, but he was such a nice man that we never held this against him. Some of the classics were: Frequently asking my sister Annelie if "she was keeping her weight down", and calling us grand kids "a bunch of wild indians".

5. Elwood spent years milking cows and as a result he had very strong hands. For as long as I can remember, up to the point when he died, he would come up to me or my sister and place his mammoth hand on the place right above your knee where it's really sensitive and squeeze. It was always just to the point of playful uncomfortablility, but I always had the sense that he could have crushed my leg if he had wanted to. These huge hands also made him a backrub favorite for my wife Kim and my sister Annelie.

6. He was very good at remembering dates. He always knew everyone's birthday and the year we were born. He would always tell you how old you were.

7. He loved to go to McDonald's. All that he wanted for Christmas or his birthday was a gift certificate to McDonalds. He would say, "That's the best place to go"

8. He was an avid golfer and played without a cart up until a couple years ago. I remember playing with him a few years back at a small par three course in Cedar Falls, IA (where I am from) and he dominated me. He couldn't hit it far, but straight as an arrow.

9. He was a very healthy man. He was never on any form of regular medication. When he was younger he used to do 30 push-ups everyday.

10. He would always grab my arm and inspect my bicep and then say "OOOOOOOH, strong!"