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TAYLOR -- "Cliff" Alfred Stewart Clifford Taylor, resident of Albuquerque, NM since 1949, and formerly of Detroit, MI, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at the age of 89. Cliff was born February 14, 1919, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada to Alfred George Stewart Taylor and Blanche Gwendoline (LeDrew) Taylor. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 52 years, Eileen Bernardine (Rogers) Taylor; his sister, Violet Bernice Phelps; and son-in-law, Bob Appel; and step-son, Paul James Peiffer. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Maclovia "Mackie" (Gonzales) Taylor; daughters, Dianne Joyce Reiff and husband, Richard, Nancy Lynn Appel; sons, Alfred David Taylor and wife, Tomi, Michael William Taylor, and Steven Patrick Taylor and wife, Debbie; and step-daughter, Lisa Jensen and husband, Jason. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; and three additional great-grandchildren are expected later this year. Also surviving, is his brother-in-law, James Rogers; and many nieces and nephews. Cliff spent his early years growing up in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, MI. He graduated from the Henry Ford Trade School in 1937, and attended the Henry Ford Apprentice School for four years and then began his career as a tool-and-die maker. Life was put "on hold" when he entered the U.S. Navy (1943-1945) during WWII and served on the USS Victoria in the Asiatic Pacific. A few years later, in November 1949, Cliff and his family moved to Albuquerque when he accepted employment with Sandia Corporation (later known as Sandia National Labs). Cliff was always proud of the fact that he helped establish the Machinists Apprenticeship Program while at Sandia. He retired from Sandia in 1974. Cliff always had a passion for sports of all kinds and as a young man in Detroit played ice hockey, softball, football, track and field, and every year he looked forward to the "Indy 500". After moving to Albuquerque, he played amateur softball for several years pitching for teams sponsored by Schwartzman Packing, Simons, and others. He also pitched on Sandia Corporation's teams while employed there. From 1970 to 1975 he served as commissioner of the American Softball Association (ASA) for the state of NM. His love of sports was shared with and by his three sons over the years. During their years together, Cliff and Eileen enjoyed travel with family and friends and time spent at their cabin at El Vado Lake (which Cliff built). After Eileen's death, Cliff remarried; he and Mackie also enjoyed traveling, particularly the warm beaches of Mexico. He was full of life to the very end! Viewing and visitation will be from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd., NE. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel. Burial will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. with full military honors. Pallbearers will be his sons Alfred David Taylor, Michael William Taylor, and Steven Patrick Taylor; grandsons, Todd Lee Cleveland, Scott Andrew Cleveland, and Nicholas Manning. Memorial contributions may be made to Vista Care Foundation, 601 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ave NE, 10th Floor, 87102. French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Tue April 01, 2008