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Dr. Lee H. Taylor
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Much loved pastor, educator, counselor, father and grandfather. Lee left this world peacefully and with his Bible at his side which he had read through more than fifteen times during his life. Affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist church since 1947 he was a great warrior for the Lord and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lee was born and raised in Seymour, Mo. with his two sisters and one brother. After starting college in Springfield, Mo., Lee decided to strike out for himself. Hitchhiking to California, he secured a job south of Los Angeles in the town of Balboa where he also met his future wife, Marjorie Crocker. Lee and Marjorie were married on Nov. 23, 1940; after which they both attended a Seventh-Day Adventist college; La Sierra in Riverside, Calif. Once they graduated in 1943, Lee accepted a position with a Seventh-Day Adventist boarding school, Broadview Academy in LaGrange, Ill. During the time they were there; from 1943 to 1951 Lee served as Boys' Dean and later, academy Principal. He also obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Education at Northwestern University Evanton, Ill.. Lee later served in the Education Department of the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists from 1951 to 1956; and continued his education, receiving a Masters' Degree in Counseling from Columbia University in New York. In 1956, Lee accepted a postition as Associate Professor of Education and Public Relations' Director at a Seventh-Day Adventist College; Pacific Union College, Angwin, Calif.

In 1966, Lee and his family relocated to southern California, where Lee served as academy principal of a Seventh-Day Adventist academy in Northridge, Calif. until 1970; after which he pastored two churches in the Southern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists' until 1974. Lee attained his PhD in Psychology in 1975 from California Western University, Santa Ana, Calif. at the age of 61 and spent the next 15 years in Family and Marriage Counseling in Simi Valley, California until his retirement in 1990.

Lee loved his family; including three adopted daughters and loved the outdoors and nature - introducing us to camping, boating and fishing. He also loved people - visiting with friends and relatives during holidays and vacations. He was the best dad a girl could have asked for - his Godly influences shaped our lives and all of us came to know Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. He was always there to listen, advise and encourage without criticism and loved us all so unconditionally. He patiently attended all our various school , sporting and musical events without ever complaining - always telling us how proud he was of our accomplishments.  He also personally baptized each of his daughters into the Seventh-Day Adventist church when we reached the age of 12. He was the guiding light of our family; always praying with us before we left for school each morning and before we went to bed in the evenings. 

As much as Lee loved and adored his family; he loved his Lord more than anything and his deepest desire was for everyone to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour; and he used every opportunity during his life to convey that message to everyone he met. Many came to know the Lord through his quiet, loving, gentle spirit.

Lee was preceded in death by his daughters, Marleen and Kathleen.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Hemet, Calif.; his daughter Patricia Sgherzi and her husband Mike; grandsons Nicholas and Matthew; his sisters,  Doris of Paradise, Calif.; Wanda, of Missouri; and his brother, Eugene also of Missouri; as well as numerous other relatives and dear friends and colleagues.

Special thanks go to our Dr. Grant McNaughton and the nurse and staff of the Long Term Care Unit of Tehachapi Hospital who lovingly cared for Lee during the last three months of his life. He loved all of you and you made his short stay there so happy.  

Lee's favorite statement was: "I'll see you in Heaven" - what a glorious day of reunitement that will be.

I love you dad - truly you were "The Wind Beneath My Wings."

"Just think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven; of touching a hand and finding it God's; of breathing new air and finding it celestial; of waking up in Glory and finding it Home."

"I have fought the good fight,I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future  there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and  not only to me,  but also to all who have loved his appearing."   
           
— II Timothy 4:8

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