Sean Michael Taylor

Sean Michael Taylor died suddenly, yet peacefully, in his sleep on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at his residence in Peck, just days after his 52nd birthday.

He was born in Big Spring, TX on October 7, 1963 to Harry Michael McDowell and Margaret Lydia Schumpert McDowell. Just seven weeks later, Air Force Cpt. McDowell died in a plane crash.

Following their marriage in 1964, Gayland Dean Taylor adopted Lydia's infant daughter and son as his own.

Growing up in Dallas, Sean faced struggles early on. With the support of his family, he moved to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch outside of Amarillo, TX to find balance and direction. After graduation, he began a life of adventure and entrepreneurship.

Self taught, Sean moved to Los Angeles to become an underwater welder. He was an accomplished SCUBA diver and loved the silence and beauty he found in the ocean. Moving back to Kansas where his family lived, he used his knowledge of welding to become an inspector at Boeing Aircraft.

After leaving Boeing, he followed his passion for cars, especially Corvettes. He restored many of them and built an appraisal business known as Investment Auto. At the time of his death he was the owner of Taylor & Associates, an insurance adjustment company of church and commercial property. He continued his auto appraisal business under the umbrella of Taylor & Associates.

At heart, Sean was an entrepreneur. He loved to study about business and had a special fondness of history. He would spout facts and figures that few seemed to know, and also had a quick wit about himself, rattling off jokes one after another, leaving you little time to catch your breath.

Sean was passionate about many things. He loved cars, guns, dirt bikes and collecting. But through it all, in the highs and lows of his life, he was passionate about family. No matter the situation, one thing of which you could be assured, Sean loved you! His life changed when his twin children were born, and every decision he made had them in mind.

He is survived by his mother: Lydia Taylor of Newton; his twins: Jaden Frances Taylor and Jack Michael Taylor of Derby; his sisters: Rebecca (Alan) Bansemer of Newton and Tanya (Benjamin) Lyon of Colorado Springs, CO; brother: Christopher (Marcey) Taylor of Spring Hill, TN; and his fiance': Darcy Alexander of Peck, and her children: Courtney and Tanner.

His family and friends will celebrate his life on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd, Derby KS, 67037. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22 from 1:00 until 6:00 PM at the mortuary. Burial will be in the family cemetery, Willow Wild Cemetery, in Bonham, TX on Saturday, October 24 at 10:00 AM.

Friday, October 23, 2015

10:00 AM

Get Directions on Google Maps