Now that I can reflect more after the funeral, I compiled more memories of my brother Bill. Memories will never go away, especially if you write them down and share your memories. Family gatherings was unwritten special occasions for us. We would retell our past hundreds of times, as if never heard before. We always would laugh so hard, until the next time.

-First Movie;  Bill took me and Bunny to our first movie, on 103rd St at the “Largo”. We saw “ No time for Sargent “ with Andy Griffin. Bill would  mimic Andy Griffin as we walked home.

- Doctor office: since Bill would always be the first one home from school or the oldest after Chi and Bobby left home, Bill would take us to the doctors office on 204 th and Figueroa. When I accidentally cut Bunny’s hand and when I broke my hand fighting at school. The doctor gave me Demerol and I called the nurse “ Jeepers Creepers” from the TV series. Bill was laughing so hard- as he was sitting in the corner. I can see that laugh like it was yesterday- squinting eyes and downturned eyebrows.

-Sock hop: Bill gave me a Quarter to go to the neighbors garage party, because all the kids was going. Bunny could always get money from Daddy- so she had hers. The garages was still dirt floors . So, after putting on Aqua- Velva, I went to the Garage party. Bill laughed at me afterwards , with the dust all over me and sweat/ Aqua -Velva. He said , you should’ve use the Quarter to go to Sportsman Park sock hop. What a revelation!!

-I saw Amon ( Butch- in the neighborhood), who reminded me of all the Hub caps he, Bobby and Bill would steal and bury them , in this large pit  they dug in the backyard. Bill showed me how to remove chrome mirrors from cars and put them on our bicycle gooseneck handlebars.

-Hoarder: Bill , the biggest hoarder of his possessions. He loved Vanilla Fingers. He would by an entire two row pack and hide them in the house. He didn’t know that Bunny can track any hidden food, pick any lock and take his stash.

-Cha-Cha: Our family and Cousins, aunts, uncles would go to Carrillo beach during the summer. The beach had a bandstand and dance floor. Bobby, Chi, Bill , Ronald would be dancing on the platform floor. Bunny, Manual, Pat, Tony and Me would be along the wooden cowboy-like rails. Bill would come over and grab us to Cha- Cha with them. That was his favorite dance and also the families. 

-Ox Tails: Bill would make the best Ox tails , rice and gravy. When the weekend came, he would say, I have to make me some Ox tails and drink his Colt 45

- Strawberries: During his 10th grade , Bill wanted to make money for a car. He got a job picking strawberries in Central California. We saw him off on the bus with his track adidas bag. Within one week, he was back. The sunburned skin, dirty clothes and sor back. He said, he would never eat another strawberry again. Picking strawberries was not what he thought. I asked, did you think you was going to summer camp.?

-Farmer John sausage:  I was cooking a whole pack of sausages and Bill asked how many was I eating. I said, all of them. He wanted half. I told him to cook his own. Then the fight started., My nose was bloodied and he had stab marks from the cooking fork. Then Chi stepped in to protect me. Bill didn’t want to go up against Chi. He had too many fight marks from her and too many destroyed shirts. Needless to say no one got to eat the sausages but Chi.

-When I started running hurdles in high school, Bobby and Bill came to my first meet. They set up hurdles on the grass and started striding the hurdles together. This , to me was the greatest site to see. This defined my male siblings. Bobby would go on to coach me. But Bill would coach me in the neighborhood. He would say, you remember us running the fences, from yard to yard- using the fences as hurdles. Of which I did, as I remembered them striding the chain link and wooden fences. He told me I had to practice my hurdles and master the fences.

There are so many memories in his 75 years. He would tell me I’m his big brother, but he was my teacher of life, my protector, my friend. I love you beyond words. Your greatness precedes you in the house of the Lord. 

The second most powerful prayer the Angels sing:

Holy, holy, holy. Lord God of Host. Heaven and earth is in thy glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Your Brother, 

Anthony

My brother Bill, I loved greatly. He has always been there for me and loved unconditionally. He exemplifies everything my Dad wanted from his sons. Stand tall, head up and be a man. Take care of your family. That he did.  

-when I was in kindergarten, I pooped in my pants. They had to pull Bill out of class to take me home. He walked me home, bathed me and made me lunch.

- when I had an emergency surgery at 3, Bill read me Superman comic books 

- Bill tried to be Superman, jumping off the garage with a cape and caught his neck on the clothes line

-Bill taught me how to make waves in my hair with Murray’s grease  and Chi’s stocking, for stocking cap

-I would watch Bill play baseball, on the big baseball diamond at Will Rogers Park . He showed me how to soften my glove with saddle soap

- Bill made shoeboxes and he brought me to Broadway and Slausen at the newsstand to shine shoes.

- Bill and Bobby had the prettiest Swan dive off the Hightower at Will Rogers Pool

-Bill and I would laugh every Xmas trying to tighten our Union 5 skates on Keds tennis shoes, that would just curl under

-Bill could cook anything, make candy from syrup. Bunny almost burnt the kitchen down trying to mimic

-Bill thought me how to starch and iron shirts

- I asked Bill what should I get with my blue chip stamps books and he said a fishing pole. We went surf fishing

-our Dad would cut our hair on the back porch. Bill hated to get his hair cut, I would cry and say how much I hated it, only because he did. I didn’t like beburned by the hot clippers. Bill would put his cheeks against mine and say , we are twins. I could still smell the AquaVelva,on Bill,  my dad used to cool the burns

- Bill attended every one of my football games, track meets. He brought everyone from the neighborhood: Theodore, Chick( Michael), Eugene, Paul.

-Bill would move everyone in the family- driving the large U Haul. Mainly Chi- 100 x

-Two sets of bunk beds and a bed on the service porch, we would sing ourselves to sleep. Our favorite was In the Still of the Night. Bobby was lead, but Bill had to sing the shoo- boop, shoo - do - whaa part.

- Bills favorite song was James Moody and Louie Jordan : There I Go, There I Go, THERE I Go

- Every Xmas eve we would have our brandy and listen to Merry Xmas Baby

- Bill will always say his blessings before meal, my sons learned so much from his uncle, this was the most significant 

- Bill and I sat outside one night and he was going to move with Cynthia to Texas. He stated, they are getting older and should spend the rest of their days with each other and family. He said that would complete his life and I know it did

- after every talk Bill and I would tell each other I love you

- My final and most powerful prayer to my brother Bill: God the Father Almighty, Bill present to you, your son Jesus Christ. Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Jesus died for the Atonement of Bill’ s sons, through the Passion of Christ . God Bless Bill’ s Soul. Amen

Love you Bill, 

Your Brother

Anthony 

To all the beautiful Taylor Family, our deepest condolences. We pray you find comfort in happy memories and in your faith. Love and light surrounding you.

Marci and Kathy Halili Akoma