Taylor Snow, 85

Taylor Cook Snow, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Centrica Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo surrounded by his loving family.

A former mayor, Citizen of the Year, and involved Three Rivers resident, Taylor was also a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

He was born October 16, 1938 in Plainwell, the son of Shirley C. “Sox” and Nancy C. Snow, and graduated from Allegan High School with the Class of 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Albion College in 1960 and completed post-secondary education related to finance, banking, and trust through several institutions including the Wharton School.

Starting at Old Kent Bank as a mortgage loan officer for five years, he worked the next five as a cashier at the First National Bank of Three Rivers. In 1972, he collaborated with a high school friend/banking colleague to develop the Bank of Commerce/National Bank of Detroit in Lansing. From the late 70’s to the mid-80’s he was employed by Armstrong Machine Works, establishing a new division – Armstrong-Hunt – in Milton, FL. and working in international sales upon his return to Three Rivers. The last dozen years of his career he spent at the First National Bank of Three Rivers, where he directed the Trust Department and retired as president in 2000.

Outside of work, Taylor’s time was largely spent with family and close friends, of which he had many. He traveled regularly (with his wife Mary) to see his family and friends throughout the country. Taylor and Mary spent several winter months in Navarre Beach, FL every year after retiring, close to Matt and family, but also on the beautiful beach, taking way too many pictures of waves. Coincidently, Quy Tran, who lived with Taylor and Mary’s family in the early 1980s while learning English, also lives in NW Florida, which provided an opportunity for precious time together each year. He also enjoyed golfing with his friends, entertaining with Mary, and a gin and tonic on the back porch. He was present for every band concert, basketball game, track meet, and school event of his children. Upon retirement, his activity centered around attending his grandchildren’s sporting and musical events. He was a regular at the Gull Lake High School cross-country events and attended as many baseball and basketball games as he could in Indianapolis and Florida, where son Matt’s boys played.

Taylor loved music. Having played trumpet in high school, he was a huge Louis Armstrong fan and loved Dixieland and Big Band music. In his youth he was able to see many of his favorites perform (including Louis) and made music an important part of his whole life.

He provided an amazing example of service, making train trips to Chicago to visit a close friend’s very sick child, providing excellent and long-term care (with the help of Mary and his brother and sister) to his mother during her final years, and visiting and mentoring a friend whose life led him to be in prison. He cherished these relationships.

Taylor’s service within the community of Three Rivers and St. Joseph County included being a member of the Glen Oaks Board of Directors/Glen Oaks Foundation for 17 years, Carnegie Center for the Arts Board of Directors, Mayor of Three Rivers, Citizen of the Year (along with Mary), Three Rivers Rotary president and recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship, Grand Ledge Band Booster President, Three Rivers Jaycees, Scidmore Park Board, Three Rivers Community Chest, and member of the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce.

At home, he spent many, many hours maintaining a backyard that he and Mary enjoyed and shared with others. He could often be found fiddling with the skimmers of the pool or kicking the pump behind the garage.

He found a way to instill his love of being outdoors into his family and friends, organizing fishing trips to his favorite place, Lake Wabatongushi in northern Ontario. He was known to pull water skiers all day at Gun Lake, with his brother-in-law, Chuck, as his wingman.

Taylor made special memories in the great outdoors with each of his children. He loved his time on Fisher Lake with his son Chris and his family; he loved to fish with his son Matt on Navarre Beach, Florida where he declared he was a great fisherman, but not a great catcher. He camped and hiked with daughter Cathy in Zion National Park where he even hiked 2 miles up and 2 miles back on the famous Angel’s Landing Trail.

Remaining to cherish his memory are his daughter, Mary Catherine “Cathy” Speirs of Flagstaff, Ariz.; son, T. Christopher Snow and his wife Dawn (Sharkey) Snow of Battle Creek; son, Matthew Reed Snow and his wife Amy (Willis) Snow of Milton, FL.; “adopted” daughter, Quy Tran of Miramar Beach, FL; grandchildren, Taylor C. (Danielle) Snow, Benjamin J. (Savannah) Snow, Samuel W. Snow, Andrew G. “Drew” (Sarah) Snow, and Timothy R. Snow; great-grandchildren, Harper Mary Snow, Riley Olivia Snow and Sailor Cherie Snow; brother, Thomas M. Snow and his wife Kathy (Forbes) Snow of East Jordan, MI; brother-in-law, Charles B. Pullen of Allegan, MI; sister-in-law, Patricia A. Reed of Three Rivers; many nieces and nephews who see him as a second father and great friend; and finally, his beloved Shih-Tzu, Ginger.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Reed Snow; parents, Shirley Clifford “Sox” Snow and Nancy Elizabeth Cook Snow; sister, Linda Pullen; son-in-law, Eric J. Speirs; parents-in-law, Virginia and Fred R. Reed; brother-in-law, Fred Reed; sister-in-law, Nancy J. Mitchell.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 19, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 215 N. Main St., with The Venerable Alan R. Crippen II officiating. He will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery.

Donations in Taylor’s memory may be directed to the Glen Oaks Foundation, the Three Rivers Rotary Club, or All Saints Anglican Church, Hillsdale. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.