Stanley Arthur Taylor, age 85, died Nov. 2 at Messenger House Care Center on Bainbridge Island, where he had lived since 2001.

He was born in Flathead Lake, Alberta, Canada on Feb. 17, 1918, to Frederick William and Elizabeth (Prickett) Taylor.

He graduated summa cum laude in forestry from the University of Washington.

It was there he met Gayle Smith, and they married in Seattle in 1942.

He was a flight instructor and fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and served aboard USS Bennington flying Hellcats and Corsairs in the Pacific theater, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He later was commanding officer of his reserve squadron at Sand Point Naval Air Station.

He had a long career promoting plywood products with the American Plywood Association and Weyerhaeuser in Tacoma until retirement.

Beginning with stints in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the U.S. Forest Service as a young man, he was an avid outdoorsman who greatly enjoyed camping, fishing and bird watching. He and Gayle made several trips to Europe on Audubon Society exchanges.

He took up wood carving in his 60s, specializing in birds in their natural habitats, and was a fixture at craft shows as “Stan the Bird Man” for many years.

He and his wife had three children and lived in Lakewood beginning in 1953. They moved to Poulsbo in 1996 to be closer to their children.

He is survived by his children, Liz Taylor and Scott (Diana) Taylor of Bainbridge Island, and Bill Taylor of Seattle; cousin Nance Hulbert of Norwich, England; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gayle, sister Ruth Nooney and brother Bill Taylor.

At his request there will be no service. His ashes will be scattered in Puget Sound.