It is with a heavy heart we share the passing of Dr. Bernie Taylor, M.D., on May 5, 2021, at his home near North Platte, Nebraska surrounded by family and friends.
He was born on a farm near Smith Center, Kansas, and moved to Falls City, as a small child. It was there he met the love of his life, Jane. They were married on Aug. 9, 1953.
Dr. Taylor graduated in 1957 from the University of Nebraska Medical School. After medical school, he went on to specialize in Obstetrics/Gynecology and he became the first OB/GYN west of Grand Island, NE. He had a practice in North Platte, NE for over 35 years and delivered many thousands of babies. Dr. Taylor had astute diagnostic skills and practiced impeccable ethical and moral standards.
Dr. Taylor’s interest and passion for medicine went beyond his community throughout his career. In the 1960s and 1970s he established a monthly program and outreach efforts to nearby Indian reservations to provide free prenatal care to women in need. In the 1980s, Bernie and Jane participated in Doctors Without Borders, which included trips to Indonesia, Russia, China, Mexico and Peru. They worked with this organization to exchange cross-cultural medical knowledge, introduce life-saving fetal surgical techniques and minimally invasive procedures.
Bernie loved nature and being outdoors and was a serious fisherman and avid hunter. Some of his favorite memories are of fishing trips to Wyoming, Alaska and Canada with family and friends. He spent time with his family in remote cabins in Alaska, and he volunteered for six weeks at the Ketchikan, Alaska, hospital. He enjoyed cooking and had a large garden. He had a thirst for knowledge and understanding of a huge variety of world events and issues. He was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to those who knew and loved him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Bernays and Velma Taylor; his sister, Marilyn; his beloved wife, Jane; and young daughter, Janie.
Dr. Taylor is survived by daughter, Deborah (Timothy) Budin; sons, Michael (Nancy) Taylor and Mark (Gail) Taylor; grandchildren, Kathrynn Taylor, Sarah (Nathan) Hake, Emily Taylor, Christopher Budin, Elizabeth Budin, Joshua Taylor, Andra (Aric) Berhow and Nathan Taylor; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff and doctors at Nebraska Medicine in the cardio-pulmonary ICU, the past and present staff at Great Plains Health, along with Hospice at Great Plains Health.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation to support the Nursing Scholarship Program at Mid-Plains Community College or the Goodfellow Shoe Fund.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the North Platte Cemetery with Chaplin Gary Smith officiating. All are welcome to join the family for food and refreshments after the service, at the Cody Park Pavilion in North Platte.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2021 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements.
The service will be livestreamed via the Adams & Swanson Facebook page for those who are not able to attend the service.