Orville “Uncle Shakey” Taylor, 89, of rural Austin, Minnesota, left us to join his wife of 67 years, Lorna, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at St. Mark’s Nursing Home in Austin. He suffered from a broken heart and kidney disease.

Orville Allen Taylor was born to Virgil and Vivian (Slater) Taylor on Jan. 28, 1930. Orville served in the Korean War as a tank mechanic. When he returned home, he became a truck driver and a mechanic. He then moved to LeRoy, Minnesota, where he became a livestock and crop farmer. Upon retirement from hog farming, he worked for Hanson Tire of Austin for many years prior to officially retiring.

After meeting his soul mate at the Terp Ballroom in Austin, and after a short courtship, Orville asked Lorna’s parents if he could buy her a watch for Christmas. After much dismay, her parents respectfully declined, as they were going to buy a watch for her high school graduation gift. So Orville bought her an engagement ring instead!! They were married one month after Lorna graduated from Rose Creek High School, June 15, 1952, at United Congregational Church in Rose Creek, Minnesota. The newlyweds moved to the Rock Island, Illinois, area for 20 years before moving back to LeRoy in 1972, where they raised their two children, James and Sheryl.

In retirement, Orville and Lorna enjoyed their summers on a lake near Faribault, Minnesota, where Orville “caught the big one,” and winters in Yuma, Arizona.

He is survived by his son, James (Koreen) Taylor of Austin; daughter, Sheryl Taylor of Richmond, Virginia; two grandchildren, Curtis and Becca Taylor; five sisters, Doris Morris and Carole Roadenizer, both of Seymour, Iowa, Karen Kirby of Moulton, Iowa, Virgie (Steve) Wenninger of Hemet, California, and Mary Eng of Alexis, Illinois; and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorna, who passed Oct. 22, 2019; his parents, Virgil and Vivian; and one brother, Gary.

No immediate services will be held. A private family service will be held at a later date to celebrate the lives of Orville and Lorna (because they both hated the cold weather).