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| REMEMBERING JIMMY TAYLOR - "Mr. Jimmy" August 11, 1911 ~ April 11, 2007 |
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| Template by mastertemplates.com | Copyright © 2007 OXFORD BOATYARD | Webmaster: Jeff Maki | Photos by Howard Seaver, Jeff Maki & Dan Cox |
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| For those who haven't yet heard, Oxford Boatyard's beloved dockmaster, Mr Jimmy, passed away in April of 2007. Jimmy Taylor touched the lives of many people, both employees and customers, during his many decades working at OBY. He saw no color or anything on a person's outside for that matter: "We're all people," he would always say. |
| And everyone who knew him during his long and fullfilling life, knew that more than anything else, he just wanted "everyone to be happy." Below is a poem in tribute of Mr. Jimmy, written by Ashlei Voshell of Oxford Boatyard. We will always remember you Mr. Jimmy. |
| JIMMY TAYLOR - OUR DOCKMASTER FOREVER He came to us to work at OBY in 1931 And he never did retire because he said his job was fun He amazed us with his stories of the times so long ago With his accurate accounting of an era we don't know His work days started early, there were boats to prep and sand He'd finish several every day, a paint brush in each hand... He remembered when the boatyard burned, and helping fight the blaze Passing water buckets and assisting many ways He was there to greet the boaters when they pulled into a slip His outstretched arm would catch a line and none escaped his grip Methodically he tied the ropes, and when they were secure, He helped the ladies off the boats and welcomed men ashore He'd ask the people on the docks if they'd be needing ice A kind and caring person who believed in being nice And every season folks returned to see his smiling face They knew that Mr. Jimmy was a permanent part of the place When Christmas rolled around each year, he'd pass the candy out Those chocolate covered cherries were delicious, there's no doubt And when it was our birthday, or the summer sun blazed hot He'd hand us ice cream money for a treat that hit the spot He entertained us, tying knots like no one else could do There was magic in his fingers as he'd whip one up for you It wasn't until recently, he started slowing down But everyday at four o' clock he'd still be stoppin' round To empty trash and sit a spell and bring the dogs a treat His energy and zest for life were certainly hard to beat He worked here a lot of years for us...76 in all And only did he stop because he heard the angels call The legend...and friend, our dockmaster is gone and we aren't the same With love and respect we'll dedicate our "A" dock in his name And surely his spirit remains with us "forever," a watchful eye on everyone who passes through or stays at OBY Written by Ashlei Voshell - April 17, 2007 |