Louis Keith Taylor was born October 12, 1945 at home in Rogers, Arkansas. He passed away September, 23, 2016 at the age of 70 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka, CA. He was preceded in death by his father Robert Louis Taylor; his brothers, Robert Lloyd Taylor, and Tony Martin Jr. He leaves behind his wife, Joanne Taylor, and her sons, Catlyn and Ty Lee Storm.

Additional surviving family members include his mother, Agnes Baker Pilgrim; sisters Sonja Taylor; Nadine Martin and Ramona Hudson, his children include John Harrington, Katrina Taylor- Sims, Creed Taylor, Dawn Taylor, “Stormy” Taylor- Widmark; Georgina Taylor Douangdao. He also raised Jaimoe and Brandy Kibby and also Jasmine Kaye. In addition, he helped raise his grandchildren Kimberly Edwards, Keyontae Taylor and Kody Kibby. His other grandchildren are Charlotte, Diana and Grace Harrington, Robert & Zhontae Sims; Hanna, Andrea Taylor; Kaleb, Kanaan, Kyla, Kwest Perez and Thavone Douangado Kayla Sydthong , Faith, Jaimoe Jr, Hope Kibby.; Jessie Widmark, Harmony Taylor; as well as 3 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He has resided in California for over 30 years. In his early professional career, he worked for the State of California as a Parole officer in counties like Los Angles and Humboldt, where he later retired from. He also served as a certified tribal judge for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Oregon. He was instrumental bringing the sweat ceremony to Native inmates in the prison system. During these years, he also worked as a lawyer and helped many people in Indian Community. During his career, he established The Center for Indian Law and Economic Justice to ensure indigenous people were treated with dignity fairness. He helped many tribes establish their rights as Native American people. He spoke for and was the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission Board of Humboldt County. He taught at police academies throughout the nation. Further, he was also elected Chief of Police for the Hoopa Tribe.

He was a master regalia maker, tanning hides, stitching leather, creating horsehair roaches and bustles, doing beadwork he was a skilled horse trainer and rider. He was proud to be a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Throughout his life he was a traditional man and never wavered from this way of life. He held a black belt in the martial arts and sparred with Bruce Lee.

A memorial will be held on October 2nd 2016 10:00 a.m. at the The Retired Peace officers Association at 2351 Freshwater Rd. Freshwater California, and is open to the public. He will be interred at the Paul Washington Cemetery of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in Siletz, OR, and will be laid to rest by the graves of his brothers: Robert Taylor and Tony Martin, Jr.

Donations may be made to www.gofundme.com in the name of “Uncle Keith Taylor.” (set up by his niece, Ember Hudson Tonge).

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The obituary above was submitted by Keith Taylor’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.