Quilts

Graham

"Graham Frank Taylor was born in Melbourne, Australia to parents Grace and Frank. Two years later a brother, Brian, was born.

In 1963 Graham married Margaret in Melbourne where they lived and raised two children (Joanne now 41 and David 38). Graham traveled a great deal around the world during his working life as a Mechanical Engineer working in the milk industry and the drying of liquids into powder form by installing plants in the UK, USA, and of course Australia.

Graham retired from full time work in about 1999 but was always involved in volunteer work, particularly as a Rotarian which he had been for over 30 years. He was also involved in his local Church and with those less fortunate than himself.

Graham's happiest times were spent with his family and his 6 grandchildren, Ashleigh, Jessica, Isaac, Josh, Noah and baby Hannah who was born just 10 weeks before Graham and Margaret decided to take a trip of a lifetime. They would spend 12 days touring the Canadian Rockies and a further 12 days in Alaska working their way down from Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage and spending the last 7 days of their wonderful holiday on a cruise ship from Whittier down to Vancouver. There they would meet up with one of the first Rotary Exchange Students who stayed in their home in Melbourne back in 1980 who at that time lived in Grande Prairie, Canada.

After spending a wonderful day cruising Glacier Bay in perfect weather, Graham's ship cruised into Skagway the following morning for a day excursion to The White Pass. Aas he dressed for the day his life was cut short as he suffered a massive Cerebral Hemorrhage. From the ship's medical room, he was taken by air ambulance out of Skagway for a flight to Seattle which was cut short when his condition deteriorated and he was taken into Ketchikan Hospital where he passed away 20 hours after his bleed.

God provided many people to guide and support Margaret in the 13 hours it took her to arrive in Ketchikan at Graham's bedside where she was asked about donation by a representative from Life Alaska Donor Services. The family of Graham is forever grateful to Life Alaska for making this happen without any fuss as a Life Alaska Team made the journey from Anchorage to Ketchikan to carry out this last wish to donate to help another person in need.

Graham is now at peace and in a better place with his God. He loved life, his children and his grandchildren and his many friends but he also loved strangers in the street, and now Graham lives in in the hearts of those who loved him and in the strangers who have benefited from his gift."

Written by his loving wife Margaret,
Daughter Joanne and Jamie, Ashleigh and Jessica
Son David and Fiona, Isaac, Josh, Noah and Hannah