TAYLOR, Rev. Dr. Howard Heath - 81, Kentville (Kings Co.) peacefully passed into God's hands on Saturday, May 8, 2010, in the Valley Regional Hospital. Born in Halifax on May 13, 1928, he was the eldest son of the late Carl Ernst and Jessie Mae (Kidston) Taylor. He is survived by his loving wife and soulmate of 58 years, C. Marilyn (Marshall), who resides at Orchard Court, Kentville; sons David (Sandra), Scotts Bay; Bruce (Brenda), Cole Harbour; Paul (Joyce), Lakeville; Wayne (Laurel), Kentville; daughter Nancy, Ottawa, Ontario; and grandchildren, Johnathan, Stephen, Rachel, Melissa, Matthew, Benjamin, Daniel, Nathan, Jessie, and James; step-grandchildren Jay, Mark, Zachary, and Chelsea. In New Brunswick, he is survived by his younger brother Robert, (Cambridge Narrows) and five nieces and nephews as well as his cousin Marjorie McKay and her family. He worked in sales with his father and uncle, and on becoming a lay preacher, served four churches in Hillsburn, Annapolis County, NS. After studies at Dalhousie University, the Halifax Business College, and studying nursing at the Nova Scotia hospital, he answered the call to ministry, and decided to become a licensed pastor. He married (Constance) Marilyn Marshall on July 3rd, 1951 at the West End Baptist Church in Halifax. After the wedding he took a summer pastorate in Cape Breton, where he served the churches in Grand Myra, Myra Gut, and Homeville. He attended Acadia University, graduating with his BA in 1956 and his Master of Divinity from Acadia Divinity College in 1957, and while a student was preaching at churches in Gaspereau, White Rock, and Melanson, as well as Falmouth, Upper Vaughan, and Canning. During these years his sons David and Bruce were born. Both he and Marilyn were interested in mission work, and were appointed to Angola, in Portuguese West Africa, by the Canadian Baptist Overseas Mission Board. They traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, for language training, with their young sons, David 6, and Bruce 3 1/2 . He directed the mission in Kimpondo, (Angola) where their son Paul was born, and supervised 35 churches and schools in the region. With the outbreak of civil war in 1961 they were ordered out of the country by the authorities due to escalating violence. Upon return to Nova Scotia, he again studied at Acadia University and on a scholarship travelled to Louisville, Kentucky, to study Pastoral Clinical Training. They returned to Canning, Nova Scotia in 1962, where their son Wayne was born. Besides the church in Canning, he also had the pastorates of Pereau and Blomidon, while again attending Acadia Divinity College graduating with his Master of Theology. Receiving a fellowship, the family again moved, this time to Indianapolis, Indiana where besides his studies, he was chaplain at the Coleman Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics where his daughter Nancy was born. The family moved back to Nova Scotia in 1967, residing in Port Williams. He was appointed executive director of the Institute of Pastoral Training, and resumed studies at Acadia Divinity College, graduating with a Masters of Theology in 1970. In the same year, he was named National President for the Canadian Association of Pastoral Education for Hospital and Correctional Institutes. He served full time with the corrections facility in Springhill. From 1973 to 1977 the family lived in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia where he was the first full-time non-medical family therapist in Nova Scotia, working for Family and Children Services for Lunenburg County. During these years he did extension work for Acadia Divinity College as well as working as a supply pastor at Barss Corner and other local churches. The family moved back to the Annapolis Valley, and for a year and a half he commuted to Saint John where he served as Director of Chaplaincy Services for New Brunswick. In 1981 he became the Director of Kings County Psychiatric Hospital and chaplain of Kings County Rehabilitation Centre, a position he retired from in 1995. During most of these years he worked as an adjunct professor for Acadia University and Acadia Divinity College, and was granted an honorary degree from one of the two interdenominational Nigerian theological colleges co-founded by one of his students, Dr. Michael Odelami. This degree was in recognition of his work with several Nigerian students involved in pastoral training in their own country. His passion for art was expressed in his painting with the original group of seven artists in Canning, humorously referred to as "Canning's own Group of Seven" This group consisted of Kay Lyons, Louis Clarke, Fran Dickie, Marie Bickerton Ron Goodwin, Eva Weldon, and Howard Taylor, of which Howard was the last remaining member. He was also a member of a group of artists who met weekly in the Wolfville Baptist Church. He is remembered for his great heart, stubborn will, sense of humour, and desire to help others, as well as his perfect imitation of Donald Duck, and his legendary loud sneezes. We love you Dad. Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. There was no visitation, by request. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at the Wolfville United Baptist Church, with reception following, Reverend Doctor Barry Morrison officiating with Reverend David Shaw to bring the message. Interment took place in Willowbank Cemetery, Wolfville. The family extends sincere thanks to the staff at Valley Regional Hospital, especially the Emergency Department and Medical Unit A, for their compassionate care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Baptist Ministries. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. On-line inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.