Twyla Taylor R.I.P. 2016

Wife, mother, grandma, friend and great human being…..

I first meant Twyla in the 1996 or 1997 after an introduction to Jim by Miles Fortis, I liked her from the first moment. Sweet, kind, and friendly and with that slight southern drawl in her voice she just made you feel like family.

From the late 90’s to mid 2000’s I spent several weekends a year plus a full week during deer season here in Missouri hunting with Jim. She always went out of her way to make me feel welcomed and at ease staying with her and Jim, She laughed one time saying I was like a playmate for Jim so she liked that I came down and stayed the weekend or week hunting deer to keep him out of her hair : )

During one weekend visit, upon arriving I found out she was not feeling well and offered to turn around and go back to St Louis. She would not have any of that nonsense and demanded I stay. A few hours later I was outside by my van just looking at the countryside and trying to give her some space. She saw me outside, got out of bed and came to the door telling me to get inside, she figured out what I was doing and would have none of it. Yes I went in, didn’t want to upset “Mom”. She made me feel welcomed into her world no matter the situation and I didn’t want to disappoint her.

Twyla’s other talent, besides keeping Jim in line, was handgun grip scrimshaw. Talented is kinda a understatement. One Saturday evening after dinner she sat down at the kitchen table and worked on a pair of ivory 1911 grip panels. Seems a gentleman from the other side of the world heard about her work and commissioned her to scrimshaw a set dragon grip panels. Now being a fan of dragons I sat down next to her and watched in amazement how she free hand craved out the dragon with great detail. Such detail in a small scale was truly amazing. She worked with such happiness and enjoyed showing and explaining the details of her work, saddens me I will never be able to own of a piece of her work.

Hard to say everything that needs to be said about her, the best way I can sum it all up is the world just lost a great woman.

One of the things I will miss most is how she said my nickname, with that sweet southern drawl, always brought a smile to my face, Twyla I will miss you.

Irvin “Gunner” Smith
St Louis Mo

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