TAYLOR, Roosevelt 1927-2015

TAYLOR, CURRY, MARTIN, LEE

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 11/10/2015 at 13:10:54

Roosevelt Taylor

12/29/1927 - 06/16/2015

Roosevelt Curry-Taylor was born in Water Valley, Mississippi, December 29, 1927, the son of Joseph D. Curry, Sr. and Lucille Harris Taylor. He attended the Water Valley Schools, and came to Waterloo, at age 14, to live with his grandparents, George and Alice Martin, and complete his schooling.

Roosevelt was employed at Bishop’s Café, Rath Packing Co., Chamberlain Manufacturing and John Deere Tractor Works. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950, re-enlisting, and serving as Corporal in the 5th Army and Army Medical Corps, in the U.S. and Europe. In 1955, while stationed in California, he married Ella Mae Lee. They later divorced. There were no children from this union.

After his return from the Army in 1956, Roosevelt went back to work at John Deere, and also worked as an orderly at Allen Hospital. He retired from John Deere in 1993.

For more than 50 years, Roosevelt devoted much of his life to helping others: Roosevelt’s activities in the community included: Serving on the Board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Martin Luther King Jr. Education; Metro Clothes Closet;
Iowa Financial Authority; Council on Aging; Visiting Nurses; and the John Deere/Veridian Credit Union Board. Other organizations he served include: Black Hawk Branch of NAACP; Optimist Club; Jesse Cosby Senior Center; Department of Corrections; Waterloo Mayor’s Tax Commission; and Disabled American Veterans. Roosevelt was a member of the Honor Guard of Disabled Veterans and a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Roosevelt belonged to many Fraternal organizations and was a member of the Knights of Pythias; he was a Thirty-third Degree Mason; a Worthy Patron of Palestine Chapter #28 Order of the Eastern Star; Past Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge #35 Free and Accepted Masons; Past Commander-in-Chief of the A.G. Clark Consistory #68; Past Illustrious Commander of Bashir Temple #156 Prince Hall Shriners; and a Member of Knights of Pythias Lodge.

Roosevelt received the 2000 Douglas A. Fraser UAW International Community Service Award; 2002 Human Rights Community Award; and the 2003 Waterloo Community Schools Award. Roosevelt’s favorite award was the one he received from Gov. Branstad, in 1990, recognizing African American Veterans in the State of Iowa, for which he was given the Great Seal of Iowa.

Not only was Roosevelt known for volunteering, he was also known for his financial generosity, open-heartedness, and sense of humor. He loved to joke and sing. When he didn’t want to answer a question, he’d jokingly say, “Me no speak English, cha, cha, cha.” His favorite quote was, “Don’t put off ‘til tomorrow, what you can do today. Tomorrow may never come.”

Roosevelt leaves to cherish his memory, a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends. Two “favorite” nieces, Mary Johnson and Delores Sisk, who spent countless hours overseeing his care.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father, Walter Taylor, who raised him; a nephew, Charles Nicholson, whom he raised; nephew, Lee Russell Sisk, who lived with and cared for Roosevelt, and twenty combined Curry and Taylor siblings.

Funeral Service:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Union Missionary Baptist Church
209 Jackson Street
Waterloo, Iowa

Burial:
Tuesday, February 5, 2015
Garden of Memories
3669 Logan Ave.
Waterloo, Iowa

Source: Parrott & Wood funeral home

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