Michael Jon Taylor, lovingly known to many as Mikey, was born on January 14, 1981, in Lindsey, California. He grew up and continued to live in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He passed away in 2026 following a courageous battle with myxofibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Mike is survived by his wife Kristy, Son, Levi and daughter, Grace, parents, Keith Taylor and Sue (Gus Berggren) Taylor. He is also survived by his brothers, Chad (Katie) Taylor of Ogilvie, Minnesota, and Chris (JoAnna Helms) Taylor of East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He is also survived by his father and mother-in-law, Tim and Yvonne Murray of Angle Inlet, Minnesota; and brother-in-law, Billy Murray (Jenny Brandon) of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, along with extended family members and many friends who became family along the way. Mike was a proud uncle and godfather to several lucky children. His nieces and nephews Jaxson, Brantley, Casey, Memphis, Lincoln, and Kasidy were so special to him and they all held a special place in his heart.

Mike was preceded in death by his beloved chocolate Lab, Mocha; his grandparents, Jim and Norma Dudgeon, Ward and Trudy White and his Aunt Donna Boone.

Mike was often a quiet man, but he was dependable, hardworking, loyal, and the kind of person you could count on when you needed him. He didn't always need words to show how much he cared. He showed it through his actions, by being there, lending a hand, and standing beside the people he loved. If you knew Mike, you knew that when he cared about you, he meant it.

Mike met his wife, Kristy, years before their wedding day. He was friends with her brother, Billy, and they would all spend time together. Mike had his eye on Kristy, but she wasn't quite sure of him at first. Billy eventually encouraged her to give Mike a chance, and the rest is history. After chasing her for years, Mike married Kristy on September 17, 2011. What began as a friendship grew into a marriage, a family, and a lifetime of memories.

Kristy often joked with Mike that he was an “alright husband, but the best dad ever.” It was one of those loving jokes between the two of them, and the truth behind it was that Mike's love for his children was something truly special. Levi and Grace lit up his life in a way nothing else could. They were his world, his pride, and his greatest reason to keep fighting.

Mike dreamed of raising Levi to love the outdoors just as much as he did. He wanted to take him hunting and fishing, bring him to the hunting shack, and pass down the traditions that meant so much to him. He wanted his boy to grow up with those same experiences and memories. Then Grace came along and softened him in ways only a little girl can. Watching her dance and perform in the living room brought him a different kind of joy. Whether he was watching Levi play hockey or cheering on Grace as she put on a special show at home, Mike was right where he wanted to be: watching his kids do what they loved. He was their biggest fan, and being their dad was the role he was proudest to have.

Mike worked at several places throughout his career before joining RJ Zavoral & Sons. There, he found more than a job. He found lifelong friends who became like family. Mike often quoted, “You never work a day in your life when you love what you do.” He truly loved what he did, and it showed in his pride in his work and the relationships he built. He was a hardworking man who believed in showing up, doing the job right, and being someone others could depend on.

Mike and his family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone at Mike and Kristys employers RJ Zavoral & Sons and North Dakota Eye Clinic for the continued prayers, support, and help throughout Mike's cancer journey. The kindness and generosity shown to Mike and his family during some of life's hardest moments will never be forgotten and the love and support extended to all of us meant more than words can express. We will forever be grateful for the way you stood beside us.

Outside of work, Mike was happiest in the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, and spending time with family at Cass Lake, where some of life's best memories were made. He was a member of the Red River Catfish League and loved competing in local catfish tournaments. Whether he was at the hunting shack, out on the water, or simply spending time with family, these were the moments that made life meaningful to him. He wanted to pass those traditions on to his children, creating memories they could carry with them for the rest of their lives.

One of Mike's greatest qualities was his willingness to help others. He was never someone who needed recognition or attention for doing the right thing. If someone needed help, he was there. He showed his love through actions, his loyalty through consistency, and his friendship by being someone people could count on. He leaves behind countless people who will remember him not just for what he said, but for what he did.

When Mike was diagnosed with cancer, he faced it with a positive attitude and no fear. From the beginning, the journey was filled with setbacks and one devastating piece of news after another. Things did not go as planned, but Mike was willing to try any treatment that might give him more time with his family. The fight was painful in ways words cannot fully describe, yet he kept going. He endured more than anyone should have to endure because he was not ready to leave the people he loved. He wanted more time with Kristy, more hockey games, more dance performances, more trips to the hunting shack, more days on the lake, and more ordinary moments with his kids that were anything but ordinary.

Cancer may have taken Mike from this world, but it will never define the man he was. His story is about a man who loved his family, worked hard, showed up for others, and kept going even when life became impossibly difficult. His courage was found in his determination to keep fighting for the people he loved. His greatest legacy will always be the family he built, the traditions he passed down, and the love that will continue to guide his children as they grow.

He leaves behind his wife, his children, his parents, his brothers, his extended family, and countless friends who will miss him more than words can express. His absence will be felt at family gatherings, on the lake, at hockey rinks, during dance performances, on job sites, and at the hunting shack, in all the places where Mike should still be standing beside the people he loved.

Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 2026 in Hope Church, Grand Forks, ND. 
Visitation: One hour prior to the Memorial Service in the church on Tuesday. 
Interment: Resurrection Cemetery, East Grand Forks, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to an account established for Mike's children at Northern Valley Federal Credit Union in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Mike's family wants to express a special thank you to Dr. Potti and the entire staff at the Cancer Center of North Dakota; HIA Hospice here in town and at Heather's House in Fargo; Dr. Parikh and her staff; Brittni at Riverview in Crookston and countless others. Throughout Mike's cancer journey, each of you showed such kindness, compassion, and genuine care for Mike and our family. During some of the hardest moments of our lives, you made a difference that will never be forgotten. Your support, dedication, and the way you cared for Mike did not go unnoticed. We will forever be grateful for each of you and for the compassion you showed our family when we needed it most.