William DeWitt (Dee) Taylor

William DeWitt (Dee) Taylor passed away on Monday, February 20, 2023 at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.

Dee was born December 20, 1948 in Provo, Utah to Weldon J. Taylor and Gayle D. Taylor. He grew up in Provo during the fabulous '50s and '60s. One of the highlights of his early life was living with his family in Cairo, Egypt for a year and attending Cairo American College. He studied piano at an early age and enjoyed playing and writing music throughout his life. While there, he was class president and a star on the basketball team. Returning to Provo, he attended Provo High School and was the Senior Class President and captain of the basketball and tennis teams. He served an LDS mission in Argentina. He graduated from BYU with a BA in English Literature. While at BYU he met his wife Shana Pace on Halloween night, 1971, and they were married March 10, 1973 in the Provo Temple.

After his graduation, Dee and Shana moved to Charlottesville, Virginia where Dee attended the Darden School at the University of Virginia, graduating with an MBA in 1975. Dee joined Citibank and was stationed in Ecuador for the next three years. Developing cancer in 1978, Dee returned to the U.S. Following several months of treatment at Stanford Medical Center, he returned to work for Citibank in San Francisco, Seattle, and eventually Salt Lake City. He also spent time working at AT&T in their banking division, and as a banking consultant, working on the formation of several specialty banks. Professionally, he served on several boards including the Utah Opera, the BYU Management Society, and the Utah Financial Services Association.

In the mid-90’s Dee tired of working for other bosses (or they tired of him), and along with his wife purchased a dry cleaning enterprise in Salt Lake City. Over the next 28 years, Continental Cleaners became the workplace of the five Taylor children. In retrospect, these were happy times as the family worked and grew together and had some of the craziest experiences imaginable.

Throughout his life, Dee was never deterred by any challenge. He faced all trials head on without complaining. In 2014, Dee received a new kidney from his son Sam that allowed him to live another eight wonderful years, which provided more time to travel the world with the love of his life. Family was always the most important to Dee. For much of his life, he could be found at his kids and grandkids sporting events and activities.

One of his great joys was spending time in his yard, a skill that was passed down from his mother. As an avid BYU sports enthusiast, Dee rarely missed a game. He loved to play golf with his sons, and never failed to mention his two holes in one. Dee loved camping and hiking and had a fond love for Timpanogos and Squaw Peak. During the winter months, Dee enjoyed skiing with his kids.

Dee was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life and served however, whenever, and wherever asked. Dee had a deep love for his Savior and the restored gospel. Dee was known by all for his creativity, courage, determination, humor, wit, intellect, and love.

He considered his greatest legacy his marriage to Shana and the raising of their five children: Roxane Holton (Mike), Silver Spring, MD; Sam (Ashley), Riverton; Peter (Annie), Highland; Hilary, Cottonwood Heights; Michael (Amanda), Sandy. He was able to enjoy several years of grandparenthood to eleven grandchildren, Halle, Michael, Lincoln, Chase, Pernille, Elizabeth, Harald, Greyson, Aria, Malcolm, & Eloise.

He is survived by his wife, five children, eleven grandchildren, and a brother, Stephen D. Taylor.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 28 at 11 a.m. at the Cottonwood Heights Wasatch Stake Center, 8170 South Shorthills Drive. A viewing will be held Monday 6-8 p.m. and preceding the funeral service from 10-10:45 a.m. Dee will be laid to rest at Provo City Cemetery.

If you would like to watch the recorded services online, please click the blue “Watch Services” tab above.