Rawley Rounds Taylor, 87, of Mesa, Washington passed away peacefully in his home on October 12, 2026 with his family at his side.

Rawley was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho on January 13th, 1939 to Wells and Thelma Taylor. Thelma died before he reached the age of two and Wells married Bardee Lake who became his mother for the remainder of his life. Wells and Bardee raised the children in Grant, Idaho where the family owned the local grocery store.

In 1958, after graduating high school, Rawley left Idaho with his family to prepare a 78 acre piece of land for farming outside Mesa, Washington. Rawley loved farming and worked hard to build a life for his family. He often referred to his early life of farming while speaking about his shovel. A proud moment for him was sitting on the ditch bank when the first water came in from the Grand Coulee Dam. Rawley worked with the family who continued to grow the farm and established the Taylor Brothers Corporation. The brothers along with their father continued to purchase land in the Mesa area enabling each brother to have their own parcel. In 1965 the Corporation purchased a 2000 acre ranch in Okanogan County where they would run cattle and work to maintain the land for many years, also purchasing a dry land farm in Lexington, Oregon. He brought his son Kyle into the business, at a young age, and they established R Taylor & Son as they continued to farm while the others retired.

Rawley was a good, hard working man who loved his family and his friends. In the rare moments when he was not changing water, wielding his shovel, putting on his rubber boots, working cattle or driving his tractor you could find him at the local bowling alley, at the National Finals Rodeo, golfing or just catching up on his westerns. In the mornings you would find him at the Mesa Grocery Store joining the local farmers telling stories and lies and shaking dice for coffee. In his older years, he spent his time with his children and grandchildren helping them with whatever projects they may have had, and always looking for the opportunity to have a good argument. He was a good teacher to his grandchildren and always had jobs for them in the summers allowing him to pass on a part of himself.

He was a pioneer who left a legacy for the next generation through his love for them, work ethic, persistence and love for the land. A legacy that helped to establish the farm land we now call the Columbia Basin.

Rawley is survived by his children, Rawline Taylor, Kyle Taylor (Loretta), Tharon Taylor, Justin Taylor and first wife, Deanna Taylor (Forgey). A lot of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rawley is preceded in death by his second wife, Linda Harrison; brothers, Demont Taylor, Paul Taylor; sister Nancy Taylor (Clawson); parents Wells D. Taylor, Thelma Taylor (Grow) and his stepmother, Bardee Taylor (Lake).

Services will be at Muellers Funeral Home in Pasco, Washington on Saturday, October 24th at 11:00 a.m. There will be a meal following the service.