CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Jeffery Scott Taylor (Jeff) – dear husband and friend and colleague to many – died of complications from a debilitating muscle disease at home in Chicago on Thursday, May 2. He was 68. Born in Columbus, Indiana and raised in his beloved Brown County, Jeff graduated from Brown County High School in 1974. He finished his undergraduate studies at the main campus of Indiana University in 1978 and immediately started law school at John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He claimed coming from Brown County did not prepare him for the sights, sounds and shock of a downtown Chicago law school.
He survived the culture shock and was admitted to the bar in 1981 and adopted Chicago as his new home. After a few years of practice, in 1991 he received a Master of Laws in Taxation with honors. That earned him an eventual partnership in a boutique tax law firm where he practiced until 2021. He was a respected attorney, had a great legal mind and his clients appreciated the way he could explain complicated tax laws to their understanding.
Jeff loved the game of golf and caught that bug in his pre-teen years. He played many great golf courses in the US, Scotland and England, the crowning glory being The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. He was cheered by the crowd along the street on the 17th hole after a beautiful shot and many heard the story long thereafter. Jeff had a fantastic wine collection and made the acquaintance of many wine makers – they would talk wine. Jeff loved to travel, especially to Scotland and the city of London.
He felt at home in London. While visiting there, numerous folks would stop him to ask directions. He fit the part and got a kick out of it. He also had some fun adventures in Italy, Spain, and France (a barge trip on a French canal). But best of all, he liked to relax with a good cigar and a book on the deck of his Brown County log cabin, built with the help of his brother, Jack, his wife, Maureen, and many local folks.
Jeff is survived by his wife of 34 years, Maureen Meritt Thomas Taylor, his step-daughter, Gretchen G. Thomas, and her life partner, Claudia Carasso, his brother Jack R. Taylor and his life partner, Tina Curtis, his nephews, Derrick Taylor and Seth Taylor, and his niece, Maddison Taylor. He is also survived by cousins and very special friends in Chicago, and Brown County, especially Cathy Schrock, who reminisced with Jeff during his last few weeks and also with Larry Harden, his best friend since kindergarten. He will be missed. His parents, Maurice Franklin Taylor and Robina Ellen Summers Taylor, pre-deceased him as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Brown County Humane Society.
