Member News

David Taylor, 67, died quietly in the company of family on Saturday, April 17, after a long illness. David was born October 28, 1942, in Dallas to Weta and Ray D. Taylor, and grew up in Brownwood, Texas. He was a loving husband to his wife, Mary, for 38 years.

David was a professional photographer for over 20 years creating photographs that are honest and natural and capturing the essence of each individual. He was a Board Member and Historian of the Professional Photographers Guild of Austin, and a certified a photo preservationist, helping reclaim and care for family histories. A life-long learner and teacher, David taught genealogy classes for the Lifetime Learning Institute.

Under the extensive tutelage of Psychotherapist Dan Jones, he co-led men's support groups helping men in recovery from early emotional injury. Here, he honed the skills that led him to his second career working with homeless youth. In 1997, David volunteered with the Austin-Travis County Homeless Taskforce to collect and archive pictures of homelessness and hunger taken by youth living on the University's "Drag". After closing his photography studio, he joined the staff at LifeWorks where he developed a deep understanding of the most effective way to work with homeless teens and young adults helping many to find their way to more meaningful and productive lives.

David was a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for abused children, a 15-year volunteer for Parents Anonymous of Texas where he led parent education and children's therapeutic play groups, a volunteer and trainer for the parent crisis HeartLine and a volunteer for the Children's Hospital of Austin. David was recognized by the Texas Network of Youth Services as the Youth Care Worker of the Year in 2007, and elected to their Board of Directors the same year.

David often quoted a Buddhist proverb, “I love what comes, and I love what goes,” that, if fully understood in all of its meanings and implications, is said to be all one ever needs to know. For some what comes is hard, for others it is what goes. If we can find balance between the two, we will know peace.

Preceded in death by his parents, David is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mary; his brother Michael Lee Taylor, and wife Joy of San Diego; his son, R.D. Kincannon, wife Amy and grandson Ethan David, of Plano; his in-laws, the Hanlon family; and numerous friends who will remember him lovingly.

Donations may be made in David's name to LifeWorks at http://www.lifeworksaustin.org/site/c.jqLSIXOBKpF/b.1504603/k.C043/Donate.htm or to the Texas Network of Youth Services at: