Obituary: Peter Taylor recalled as champion dad, husband and friend

After lonely childhood, Peter Taylor later enjoyed large, growing brood.

Mourners at the funeral of Stevenson and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor heard how he was an only child who went on to have large extended family, and rose from earning the princely sum of one pound a week at his first job to help establish a business still going strong to this day, 65 years later.

St Andrew's CHB in Waipukurau was packed with about 130 mourners for last Wednesday's funeral of the grandfather of nine and great grandfather of five.

Reverend Mike Coutts began the funeral service by saying that "Pete", who died aged 91 on August 11 with family by his side after a short stay at Mt Herbert House, had enjoyed a "good innings".

His daughter, Louise Clark, paid tribute to his caregivers who went the "extra mile" to allow Taylor to remain in the Wellington Rd home he shared with his late wife, Beryl, for as long as he could.

Taylor's eulogy was delivered by his grandson, James Clark, Louise's youngest son, who said his grandfather was born in Woodville, the only child Don and Rita Taylor, who were farm workers in Pahiatua and Eketahuna.

But due to their transient "shepherding" lifestyle, Taylor spent a lot of time at Mangatainoka living with his maternal grandparents before eventually returning to live with his parents to start correspondence school.

James said it was a "lonely life" for an only child, but his grandfather took comfort from the companionship of the farm animals and would go on to develop a "lifelong love" of dogs.

In 1937 he had his first of four stints attending Waipukurau Primary and also attended Otane School - a "very happy" time of his life - before leaving school at age 13.

His first job was working for the Yates chain of grocery stores on a meagre starting wage of one pound a week, before going to work at Williams and Kettle in Waipukurau, where he met lifelong friend, Ian "Mac" Mackenzie.

The pair would often go rabbit shooting and before long he had met his other best mate, Brian O'Connor, who introduced him to trout fishing, which soon become a passion.

Taylor would later honour his best mates by naming his two sons after them, having married Beryl in 1960.

Taylor then worked for four years at Waipukurau Engineering Company in the lube bay, which James said was a "steep learning curve" for his grandfather and included a workplace "explosion", which cost him some facial skin and most of his hair.

He then went to work at McLean's Garage and in 1953 opened Stevenson and Taylor with partner Bill Stevenson in the old blacksmith's on the corner of Russell St.

Early the next year he left the garage to work fulltime at Stevenson and Taylor, where he took on the forging work. A director and shareholder, he ended up in the parts department before retiring from the business in 1988.

James Clark said his grandfather had many hobbies, including chess and stamp collecting, and became a life member of both the CHB Anglers Club and the CHB Winemakers and Brewers Club.

In retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his "growing brood" of grandchildren and great grandchildren and could often be found in his garden or cavernous shed with a dog close by.

"He will be remembered as a great story teller, gardener, winemaker, at times a furious debater, but above all, a loving husband father, grandfather and friend. Ta-ta Pete," said James.

Brian O'Connor's son, Sean, delivered a tribute to Taylor, who he said remained a prominent part of his life even after his father died when he was just aged 11.

"Pete was always there for mum and for me, never too busy to offer help and advice. This meant a huge amount to us."

He said he looked up to Pete his whole life.

"He showed me what it meant to be a good father, good husband and friend. Pete was the most genuine and sincere person I've ever met."

After the funeral, a private cremation was held before daughter Louise held an open home at Kirriemuir Farm.

"People came out and reminisced. It was a lovely gathering. It was just as he would have wanted," Louise said.