Jess E. Taylor; Rector Emeritus

Jess E. Taylor, who served as rector of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills for 12 years, has died at a West Hills hospital. He was 59.

Taylor died Sunday of a heart attack, said his wife, Marilyn Taylor.

Born in Berkeley, Taylor came to Los Angeles in 1950 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Azusa Pacific University. He later earned a master of divinity degree from Bexley Hall Seminary in Gambier, Ohio, and a doctor of ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Notre Dame, Ind. After being ordained at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, Taylor served parishes in Michigan and Ohio.

In the early 1960s, he returned to California, serving as rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lompoc and at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Riverside. Taylor was rector at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church from 1975 until 1987, when he became disabled after a fall. He was then named rector emeritus.

Taylor was past vice president of the Valley Interfaith Council and a member of the West Valley Ministerial Assn., the Evangelical Ministers Assn. and the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his wife of 21 years, Taylor is survived by his sons, Kevin Taylor of Lancaster and Gregory Taylor of Canyon Country; stepsons John Steck of Oxnard, Bill Steck of Calabasas and Jim Steck of Menlo Park, Calif.; stepdaughter Susan Tuler of Cedarburg, Wis.; stepsister Mary Rusch of Whiting, N.J., and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned at 10 a.m. Friday at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 5700 Rudnick Ave. Pierce Brothers-Praiswater Mortuary in Canoga Park is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Taylor’s name to the Jess Taylor Living Memorial Fund at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church.