Born on July 6, 1967, in Cuba, New York, David was the son of the late Winona May Mortimer Taylor and Hazen Harry Taylor. He grew up in Cuba, where he attended Cuba Central Elementary, Middle, and High School.

David continued his education at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. David possessed a lifelong intellectual curiosity and a genuine love of learning. When something captured his interest, he immersed himself in it, often studying a subject at great length and taking pleasure in gaining a deeper understanding of it.

David married his high school sweetheart, Susan (Shilling) Taylor, and together they shared more than 25 years of life, building a home in Florida, creating lasting memories, and experiencing many of life's most important chapters side by side.

David loved his family and friends and especially valued the conversations they shared. Serious and thoughtful by nature, he nevertheless had an ability to find humor in nearly every situation. Those who knew him well appreciated his wit and the moments of laughter that often emerged when least expected.

David had many interests, including listening to music, traveling, collecting art, playing golf, and exploring family genealogy. His interest in food developed into a genuine passion for cooking and baking. He became an accomplished home cook and baker who enjoyed learning new techniques and perfecting the things he made. Among his specialties were sourdough bread, which he took great satisfaction in baking, and a beautifully roasted beef tenderloin served with horseradish sauce. Preparing and sharing good food was one of the many ways David expressed his creativity and brought enjoyment to those around him.

Despite his extensive education and professional background, David found a different kind of fulfillment during the later years of his working life. He discovered great satisfaction in working with his hands and expressing his creativity through custom cabinetry and woodworking. The craftsmanship, precision, and knowledge required by his work suited both his inquisitive nature and his desire to create something tangible and lasting.

David will be remembered for his intelligence, curiosity, creativity, sense of humor, and the depth of interest he brought to the subjects and people that mattered to him. His life took him from his childhood in Cuba to Florida and ultimately to Minnesota, but throughout those years, his family, friendships, memories, and connections remained an important part of who he was.

David is survived by his brothers, Michael Taylor (Kyungae) and Robert Taylor (Rita); his paternal uncle, Thomas Taylor; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Winona May Mortimer Taylor and Hazen Harry Taylor.

David's family and friends will remember him through the stories they shared, the conversations they enjoyed, the meals he prepared, the things he created, and the laughter he found even in life’s serious moments. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

The family will receive friends at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 10:00 A.M. until Noon. Burial will be in family plot at West Clarksville Cemetery, Clarksville, New York will follow visitation.