Charles Russell Taylor III

Charles Russell Taylor III, age 69, passed away on May 3, 2018 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Charles was born on November 27, 1948 in Galveston, Texas to Charles and Elsie (Gombus) Taylor. Russ, also affectionately called “Pops”, “Papa”, and “Old Man”, spent most of his life here in Alaska. In 1991, he retired as a Lieutenant after serving 21 years with the Anchorage Airport Fire & Police Department. He later worked as the First Student Bus Dispatcher for the Mat-Su Valley for 27 years. Russ was an avid outdoorsman – hunting, fishing, and camping were his favorite activities. Family meant the world to him; he loved spending time with his grandchildren, especially playing with them. He was always doing, fixing, and/or helping. He was the type of person to give you the shirt off his back, even to a stranger … he was there offering a hand, before you even knew, you needed him. Countless people tell stories of his kindness and of the honor people felt for having known him. He touched many, many lives through family and work; lives that are better, because of him. He will be deeply, missed and his legacy of giving will be carried on by those who were blessed by his life. Russ is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Teresa L. Taylor of Wasilla, AK; beloved mother in-law, Barbara Avery of West Sacramento, CA; son & daughter in-law, Chris & Rebekah Taylor of Wasilla, AK; daughter, MacKenzie Taylor of Wasilla, AK; step-daughter, Stacie Haubrich of Eagle River, AK; sister & brother in-law, Elise & Tim Smith of Soldotna, AK; brother & sister in-law, Rob & Jan Taylor of Kenai, AK; brother, Donald Taylor of Washington; dear-best friends, David & Antheia Dickerson of Wasilla, AK; and four wonderful grandchildren. Celebration of Life will be announced and scheduled for a later date. Arrangements cared for by Janssen’s Mat-Su Funeral Home.