Taylor Made products expand into headstones

For more than 40 years now, San Juan County residents have known that if something is Taylor Made, it is high quality.
Now the Taylor Made brand has expanded to include granite products, including headstones. The same quality and care that has gone into Taylor Made products for the past 40 years is now being focused on products that will stand the test of time.
“We know San Juan County and the people here,” said Quinn Palmer. “We offer high quality and a local feel. We can do just about anything.”
The granite comes from the renowned quarries near Elberton, GA. Taylor Made offerings feature a wide variety of options, including variations in color, style, size and shape.
The finish work can include laser etching on black granite, sandblasting on the granite, photographs, and a wide variety of recognizable images and art.
Local images and personalized work are a hallmark of the granite work completed by Taylor Made. “People really like the Blue Mountain and the Horsehead,” said Quinn, “in addition to images that are important to them.”
Monticello residents Pard and Sandra Slade recently received their headstone from Taylor Made. The headstone includes images of the music that is so important to Sandra and the horses that are so important to Pard.
“We wanted to get a headstone like we wanted,” explained Sandra. “We absolutely love it. There is nothing like it in the cemetery.”
The Slades plan to have the headstone installed at the cemetery in Monticello near the Memorial Day holiday.
“Don’t worry, we are still going to hang around for awhile,” teases Sandra.
Palmer states that a growing number of people are designing their own headstones. “They seem to know exactly what they want,” explained Palmer. “Quite often, when the kids come in after the funeral, they have a hard time deciding what the parents would want.”
“We did it so the kids won’t have to worry about it,” said Sandra.
Taylor Palmer began Taylor Made Wooden Heritage in the 1970s. The business has steadily grown over the years and now includes Palmer and his sons Quinn and Josh.
Palmer began the business with fine, handcrafted wood products. Scores of homes and businesses proudly feature their Taylor Made cabinetry and woodwork. The business has grown to include additional products, including knives and cutlery, customized trailers, and even hydroponic systems to grow feed for livestock.