In April, 1942, sitting on a bench south of the Student Union Building on the University of Texas campus, Taylor Gaines asked Inez Ragsdale if she would mind living in the sticks. Taylor was running a 3,000 acre ranch outside of Austin. Inez was planning to teach English. She said she wouldn't mind living in the sticks. They were married June 9, 1943. Two months ago, Taylor and Inez danced to "Waltz Across Texas" on their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary. Saturday, August 11, Taylor died. He was 91.
Until he retired in 1990, Taylor and Inez raised commercial hereford-brahman crossbred cattle and commercial duroc hogs. He was a founding member of the Travis County Farmers Union and a founding member of the Farmers Union credit union. He was also a founding member of the Post Oak Livestock Cooperative and the Texas Landowners Council.
As a lifelong member of Central Christian Church, Taylor served in a number of positions including Chairman of the Board. He was generous in his support of Central Christian. He paid for the elevator that makes all three floors of the education wing available to everyone and he was integral in the recent restoration of the sanctuary. Taylor served Troop 11, Boy Scouts of America, which was sponsored by Central Christian, as assistant to Scout Master Harold Page and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
Taylor recently stated that his mother had carried him into Central Christian Church and, that when he died, six men would carry him out.
Taylor is survived by his wife; his sister-in-law Jeanie Ragsdale; his five children, Eddie of Bastrop, David of Navasota, Sherrinel Cullen of Wheatland, WY, Jimmy of Dripping Springs, and Jennifer Carroll of Bastrop; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Taylor enjoyed his collection of old cars – the jewels were a 1962 Chrysler 300 and his Poppin Johnny. He passed his love of real country-western music to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. At least a dozen of Taylor's descendants play and sing that fine old music.
Taylor sometimes put his thoughts on paper, often expressing with his pen feelings shared with others. Plenty of men and women, boys and girls who've set in a classroom longing for the saddle will identify with this poem, titled "Vacation on the Range."
When summer comes and school lets out,
(seems like it never will)
I'll saddle my roan
And ride alone
To the farthest tall blue hill.
If schooling wasn't worth so much,
I'd not have stayed this long,
I look with a frown
On any man's town,
I'll leave with a song.
I want to trade the teacher's voice
For the whoop of a cowboy's yell,
And I long to hear,
As I have each year,
The tone of a loud cow bell.
Instead of studying every night
To the tune of the noisy street,
The quiet I'II mar
With an old guitar
And jog to balance my feet.
I'll rope like a top hand every day,
I'll ride like an Indian brave,
I'll dip and I'll shear,
There's nothing I'll fear,
Till I'm back in your learned, dark cave.
The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to David and Jennifer Carroll and their three children Zachary, Caleigh and Ellen, for doing so much to make our father's last months enjoyable and comfortable.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on North Lamar. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15 at Central Christian Church.
Contributions in memory of Taylor Gaines can be made to Central Christian Church, 1110 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701 or a charity of the giver's choice.