- Date Of Birth: November 3, 1977
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2018
- State: Colorado
Edward Taylor Black, 40, loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend passed away Sunday February 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. He was lovingly named after both of his grandfathers. Born on November 3, 1977 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Rafe Gaylen and Rinda Louise Abegg Black. He graduated from Olympus High School in 1996 where he and his companions made famous the notorious antics of “The Purple Knaves”. His other claim to fame was his citizenship in and passport from the Republic of Zaqistan. He was also a proud member of the Wisconsin Polka Association and recently started and very much enjoyed square dancing with his wife. He served in the Switzerland Zurich LDS mission from 1996-1998. He married DeAnn Brown on December 28, 2001 in the Salt Lake Temple. It was easy to fall in love with DeAnn because as his biggest fan, she appreciated and laughed at every one of his jokes. The sweetest word came from him when he would call her his “Mrs.” They were blessed with four beautiful children: Elizabeth Jayne, Elijah Taylor, Rafe Douglas and Lincoln Jax. Edward graduated from the University of Utah in May 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in German and a minor in Linguistics. He earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in August 2006. Much of his career was spent at The University of Utah. He moved to Colorado with his family in 2015 where he worked as the Executive Director for the Denver Research Institute. Ed was a natural on stage and had leading roles in many community theatre productions. Ed was the volleyball enthusiast at every Sunday dinner and kept the family laughing with his incredible puns and fun sense of humor. Photo bombing became his fondest pastime as he was found in the background of nearly everyone’s pictures. While in Switzerland he sent home the card game “Ligretto” where soon the family fell in love with the fast-paced competition and strove for the coveted yellow and the rumored fourth (which was red). Ed grew up with a love of fishing at Flaming Gorge and was determined to purchase a boat for his own family to continue making wonderful memories on the water. He had a passion for hiking which he developed as he earned his Eagle Scout Award. Mount Olympus was his favorite trail.
