Frances Taylor

Francis Cloud “Chief” Taylor was born on October 25, 1993 in Durango, CO. He passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2016 in Denver, CO, after a car accident on August 29, 2016 at 5am between Bayfield and Durango.

Francis graduated from Ignacio High School and then went on to attend Pueblo Community College and Fort Lewis College. He planned on continuing his education in environmental science. He worked at the Southern Ute Museum, giving tours and creating a video archive and brochures. He also was an intern at the Southern Ute Environmental Department, checking water levels and doing presentations for the E.L.K.

Francis was a very respectful young man. He was shy but caring and had a smile that would melt your heart. He loved video games, sky diving, canoeing, fishing, playing football (in high school), being outdoors and cooking for his family. He had much love for his family, especially his little brothers and sisters. Francis was a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; also, a descendant of the Cheyenne and Caddo Nations (Oklahoma).

He is survived by his mother and stepdad, Alfreda and Marvin Bailey (Oklahoma City); his dad, Scott Taylor (Ignacio); brothers Alfred Taylor and Carwinn Howie (Pocatello, ID); sisters Angaline and JoyAnna Davis (Anadarko, OK) and Serenity Jones (Pocatello, ID); maternal grandmother Alicia Grove Neash (Ignacio); paternal grandmother Mary Inez Cloud (Ignacio); numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Alfred Ross Armstrong (Oklahoma) and paternal grandfather, Jack Taylor (Ignacio).

There will be an all-night wake including a Native American Church Service for Francis on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the family home (5622 CR 521, Ignacio) at 6:00pm. On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:00am services will be held at the Southern Ute Chapel with a lunch to follow in the Southern Ute Multipurpose Room.