DEL MAR, Calif. — John Michael Taylor, founder of John Taylor Systems, died of pancreatic cancer Dec. 16 at the age of 74, according to an obituary published by his family in the Del Mar Times.
Taylor sold industrial laundry equipment for Washex Machinery of Southern California, Braun Systems and John Taylor Systems before retiring in 2012.
He was born Oct. 8, 1939, in Santa Monica, Calif., to John and Dorothy Taylor, the first of three children.
He served in the U.S. Coast Guard, Alameda, Calif., for eight years, and afterward married Jacquelyn Sanders, with whom he had three children. He married his second wife, Patricia, and they shared many happy times together traveling and entertaining, until her death in 1999, according to the family.
Survivors include Gina Ramirez; his children, Kevin Taylor of Las Vegas, Kimberly King of San Diego and Darren Taylor of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Bob Taylor of Columbus, Miss., and Bill Taylor of Castaic, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
A family memorial Mass was celebrated at the Immaculata in San Diego on Dec. 17. A Celebration of Life ceremony is planned for the Fourth of July weekend at Del Mar Beach, according to the family.
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