Welcome to the memorial page for
James "Mike" Taylor
July 29, 1963 ~ December 9, 2015 (age 52) 52 Years Old Light a Candle
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Message from Emily
December 20, 2015 7:38 PM
I knew James from the Furthur and Terrapin Nation message boards. He was a pleasure to communicate with about the grateful dead and one of my favorite shows The Walking Dead. His presence is already missed. My deepest condolences to his family.
Message from Mark & Holly Richard
December 17, 2015 6:02 PM
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Message from Tom Ferrell (Tombo)
December 16, 2015 12:50 PM
I never met Mike in person, but we were friends on several Grateful Dead-related message boards. To say that many, many people are shocked and saddened by his untimely passing would be a great understatement.
He was known in the GD community for his offbeat humor and his enthusiastic love of music, nature and friends. Those are the qualities of good people, and I can only imagine the sense of loss that you who were close to him must feel.
Please know that there are many you will never meet who are thinking of and praying for you now in this difficult time. We realize it's not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts, and all that, but that doesn't make premature goodbyes any easier.
There are so many Grateful Dead lyrics that could be appropriate here, but Mike often quoted and defended one of the lesser-known later works of Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, a cheerfully defiant song called "Liberty." The lyrics are the creed of a strong but good-natured independent and proud man. If they sound like they could be the beliefs of your son, sibling or friend, it doesn't surprise me.
Liberty - Hunter/Garcia
Saw a bird with a tear in his eye
Walking to New Orleans my oh my
Hey, now, Bird, wouldn't you rather die
Than walk this world when you're born to fly?
If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you know me you know I will
If you know me you know I will
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I do believe and I am who I am
Hey now Mama come and take my hand
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land
If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
Chop it down and you can't stop me
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Went to the well but the water was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
The whole damned world looking back at me
If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
Sake of mercy I'd kill for love
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
I'm gonna find my own way home
He was known in the GD community for his offbeat humor and his enthusiastic love of music, nature and friends. Those are the qualities of good people, and I can only imagine the sense of loss that you who were close to him must feel.
Please know that there are many you will never meet who are thinking of and praying for you now in this difficult time. We realize it's not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts, and all that, but that doesn't make premature goodbyes any easier.
There are so many Grateful Dead lyrics that could be appropriate here, but Mike often quoted and defended one of the lesser-known later works of Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, a cheerfully defiant song called "Liberty." The lyrics are the creed of a strong but good-natured independent and proud man. If they sound like they could be the beliefs of your son, sibling or friend, it doesn't surprise me.
Liberty - Hunter/Garcia
Saw a bird with a tear in his eye
Walking to New Orleans my oh my
Hey, now, Bird, wouldn't you rather die
Than walk this world when you're born to fly?
If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you know me you know I will
If you know me you know I will
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I do believe and I am who I am
Hey now Mama come and take my hand
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land
If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
Chop it down and you can't stop me
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Went to the well but the water was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
The whole damned world looking back at me
If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
Sake of mercy I'd kill for love
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
I'm gonna find my own way home
Message from Robin Pollack
December 16, 2015 3:48 AM
James was a nice guy who was an integral member of a tight-knit message board with subjects ranging from music (Grateful Dead), to sports, which he expressed die-hard opinions about. Our hearts go out to his loved ones at this very sad time.
"Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul."
RIP. Gone too soon.
"Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul."
RIP. Gone too soon.
Message from Sue Dubya
December 15, 2015 3:58 PM
James was an active and much loved member of the Terrapin Nation musical community. His will be missed. My condolences, and those of the entire TN community, go out to his family and other friends!
Message from Leora (Bradford) Stimpert
December 15, 2015 9:34 AM
Susan and Family, So sorry to hear about Jimmy's passing. He was a good guy. And was Charles best friend from way back. Now they are both listen to music together in heaven.
Message from Jack & Jan Whitehawk
December 14, 2015 4:34 PM
Just found out about Mike's passing and so sorry Robbin. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.
Message from Mary Ellen Williams, Darlene Williard
December 14, 2015 1:26 PM
Robbin & Family,
Sending prayers and sympathy at this difficult time.
Sending prayers and sympathy at this difficult time.
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