Michael John Taylor

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband and father, Michael (Mike) John Taylor of Logan, Utah, on July 24, 2025.

Mike was born on July 31, 1952 in Winchester, England to Patrick Joseph and Vera Gladys Taylor. His father was a policeman in the Hampshire Constabulary, and the family moved to the Isle of Wight for several years and finally settled in Aldershot, Hampshire. Mike attended the University of Southampton, where he received a B.Sc. in Physics, a M.Sc. in Electronics and earned a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics.

It was at the University of Southampton where he met his future wife, Višnja (nee Jereb). They married in 1981 and had one son, Alexander. Mike was a wonderful husband and a caring father and uncle.

As a young researcher, Mike met Dr. Doran Baker who invited him to do joint research with colleagues at Utah State University (USU). This led to Mike, with Višnja, moving to Logan in 1991, first working at Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) and later joining the faculty of USU’s Department of Physics. Mike loved teaching and was a committed mentor to many students.

Mike loved traveling and his research took him to all seven continents: from northern Norway to the South Pole; from Brazil to Japan. The culmination of his career was to lead a NASA-funded project placing an instrument on the International Space Station in 2023. He assembled a team of top scientists from many U.S. institutions, as well as engineers from SDL, who built the Atmospheric Waves Experiment instrument (AWE Mission). Mike was able to see it launched and successfully gather the first data, before he had to retire due to his health.

Mike was truly a dreamer. His mind was full of ideas and he was never afraid to pursue them. Mike is survived by his wife, Višnja Taylor, son, Alexander Taylor, of Logan, sister Maureen (Charlie) Higgs and niece Nichola Dixon, both of Aldershot, U.K., and nephew Christiaan Dixon of Tuckingmill, U.K..

We would like to thank doctors, therapists and staff at the Budge Clinic, the Legacy House, and the Sunshine Cares and Hospice who provided great care of Mike.

A visitation will be on August 14, 2025, 3 to 5 pm at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan,UT. Memorial details will follow later.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741, or Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.