Paul Allen Taylor was born March 13, 1951, to Ellen and Harry J. Taylor, Jr. in Alturas, CA. He passed away following several years of health issues on June 12, 2024 at home in Gardnerville, NV. where he lived and was cared for by his wife Claudia Van Winkle-Taylor
After some family moves, Paul graduated from Eureka High School, class of 1969, in Eureka, CA. Following high school, he and his friend Greg Smith enlisted in the US Army together. Paul became a lab tech and was deployed to Viet Nam. Paul carried many memories with him for the rest of his life as he was a very caring and sensitive person. Upon leaving Viet Nam he was assigned to accompany an orphan back to the United States for adoption. This is a memory that never left him.
Paul attended University of Nevada at Reno following his military service. While attending school Paul worked at Harrah’s Casino in Reno where he also lived for a number of years. He ultimately worked in casinos as a dealer and Pit Boss in Reno NV, McCall ID, and Silvana WA. He worked at the Tulalip Casino and opened a new casino, Spirit Mountain in OR and also Stillaguamish Casino.
Paul became an avid basket ball fan after playing basket ball in high school. He was a loyal fan of the Seattle Sonics and the Golden State Warriors. He enjoyed many other activities throughout his life including camping, fishing, golf, and snow skiing. The mountains held a special place in his heart. Additionally, Paul was an original ‘Dead Head’ being a devoted and ultimate fan of the “Grateful Dead’’. Whenever, Paul was required to wear a tie it was ALWAYS a tie designed by Jerry Garcia. He owned over 200 Jerry Garcia ties in his lifetime!
Paul only attended one high school reunion, that was the 45th in 2014 and it changed his life forever. At that reunion he became reacquainted with Claudia Kearse VanWinkle whom he married on July 22, 2017. They attended their 50th reunion as a couple. He and Claudia resided in Gardnerville NV where they lived until his death. Paul loved living in Gardnerville where he was able to garden and grow flowers and vegetables to his hearts content. He was a Master Gardner and would have loved to garden full time. He always had Loves-Lie-Bleeding Hearts plants that he freely gave away to friends and guests.
Paul was always an avid reader which included books on the Grateful Dead, the mountains, deserts, flowers, animals, and history of any kind. He was a true “History Buff”. He could explain historical situations extensively and correlate certain events that lent to the development of other major historical events and occurrences throughout the world.
As his health deteriorated his ability to work outside diminished. Over several years he became proficient in construction of Macramé plant hangers, tapestries, and wall hangings. Recently he learned to do Diamond Dots and was in the process of learning leather tooling. However, being outside was his first love, his current garden moved to pots on the back deck and is extensive with specialty vegetables and tomatoes and allowed him to garden from his wheel chair or scooter.
Paul is predeceased by father, Harry J Taylor, Jr., stepmother Darlene; mother, Ellen Dolson and stepfather John; Grandparents, Willard and Ruth Hurlbutt and Harry and Mable Taylor, Sr.
Paul is survived by wife, Claudia VanWinkle-Taylor of Gardnerville, NV and step children Ray VanWinkle Jr. (Toni), and Keara VanWinkle, grandchildren, Kameron (Alex), Shelby Slocum (Blake), and Malia Hallinan (Ben), Carley Huddleson, and 3 great grandchildren. Other survivors include siblings Margaret Lunnum (Duane), Alan Taylor (Angela), nephews Harrison and Mitchell, George Eustis, fiancée Kristi Von Tickner) niece and nephew Haley and Connor, cousins Caroline Thibodeau, Michael Thibodeau, Leslie Halseth, Ann Goodwin Kerr, Jann Goodwin Gam, Lynn Goodwin, Glenn Goodwin, and their respective families.
Paul had had several serious medical problems the last few years, Claudia was with Paul constantly during this time. He requested his ashes be scattered in the same location as his father, in Modoc County, California. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
If anyone would like to honor Paul with a charitable donation, please choose one of your own or St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Mt. 59004 http://www.stlabre.org/ or Pine Nut Wild Horse Advocates - Wild Horses, Advocates, Mustang Horse

CONTACT: Margaret Lunnum Goosemama47@zoho.com
Claudia Taylor tento16@aol.com