GENE TAYLOR

Mr. Kenneth Eugene "Slick" Taylor, 92, of 1619 Locust Quincy, died at 9:05 a.m. Monday (February 25, 2008) in Blessing Hospital. Mr. Taylor had been a resident of the Illinois Veteran's Home in Quincy since March 9, 2007.

Born July 9, 1915 in Lick Creek, Illinois, Gene was the only child of Grover A. and Nellie C. Wall Taylor. He married Carlene Haxel on May 11, 1947 at Madison Park Christian Church in Quincy. She survives.

Mr. Taylor moved with his family to Columbus, IL at the age of 2. He was a lifelong member of the Columbus Christian Church where he was baptized by the Rev. W. T. King in 1928. He served for many years as a deacon, trustee and treasurer. Gene was a great believer in the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Gene attended the Columbus grade school, Coatsburg High School for 3 years and was a 1934 graduate of Camp Point Community High School (Maplewood) in Camp Point, where he starred in Track & Field, winning several honors.

Following graduation, Gene was employed by the Granville Lummis Funeral Home in Columbus, IL before enlisting in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp on June 18, 1935. He was sent to Washington and Idaho as a Forest Ranger for one year. Upon his return home, he re-enlisted and was sent to Cadillac, Michigan for motor vehicle school for one year. He was employed by Durst Dairy until he entered the U. S. Army on March 18, 1941. He proudly served his country in the South Pacific and on New Britain Island before being discharged as a Sergeant on October 5, 1945.

When Gene returned home from the service, he was employed at Lagomarcino - Grupe Company for 20 years until their closing. He then was employed at N. Kohl Grocer Company for 16 years until his retirement in 1982.

After retirement, Gene enjoyed spending time at his cabin south of Columbus, IL tending to his garden and working outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a Quincy Blue Devils and St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Gene was a wonderful and thoughtful husband, father and "Pa Pa" and will be missed by his wife, Carlene; his son, Gary Dean Taylor and his wife Kathleen of Glen Carbon, IL; his daughter, Susan L. Taylor of Mora, MN; his four grandchildren, Brian Stark of Quincy, Michelle Arnold of Mora, MN and Kenneth and Kyle Taylor of Glen Carbon, IL; his cousins, Dorothy Evans and her husband Gene of Cairo, MO and Kay Frances Harwood of Eaton Rapids, MI; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his parents; and a grandson, Matthew D. Stark.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10:00 in the Columbus Christian Church, Columbus, IL by Pastor Steve Greiner and Pastor Andrew Heberlein. Burial will be in Quincy Memorial Park.

Visitation will be Thursday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 at the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home in Quincy and Friday morning from 9:00 until the time of services at the Columbus Christian Church, Columbus, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Columbus Christian Church or the Illinois Veteran's Home Activity Fund.