Kenneth Leon Taylor 1928-2011

TAYLOR, CRANDELL, HIGDAY, HALEY, STEWART, MCKINNON, STEWART, RICHMAN, DRAPER, DIES

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 9/22/2011 at 05:18:38

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa September 14, 2011)

TAYLOR, Kenneth Leon, 83, of Grand River, Iowa, died on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, at the Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa with Pastor Rick Hawkins officiating. Burial was in the Murray Cemetery, Murray, Iowa.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa September 14, 2011)

KENNETH LEON TAYLOR ... Kenneth Leon Taylor, age 83 of brand River, Iowa, the son of Clyde Smith Taylor and Ruth Edith [Crandell] Taylor, was born March 22, 1928 in Creston, Iowa. He died at the Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, his home for the past five months, on Wednesday, September 7, 2011.

Ken was raised on a farm north of Grand River. He graduated from Grand River High School in 1945. Then he entered the united States Navy to serve his country. After his honorable discharge, he met Melba Merle Higday in Kellerton, Iowa. They were married on November 20, 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa. They were blessed with three children, Dwight, Deborah, and Pamela. They also raised four of their grandchildren. Rhey lived in Des Moines until 1951, when they moved to California, first to Long Beach then to Sonoma. Ken was a machinist in his business, R & M Company. In 1989 he sold the business and retired. In 1990 he and Melba moved back to Grand River.

Ken enjoyed making model cars, airplanes, and ships. He loved his 1961 blue Dodge truck that he named Nellie. He was a member of the Grand River American Legion.

Preceding him in death were his parents. Survivors include his wife Melba Taylor of Grand River; children, Dwight and Katie Taylor of Osceola, Iowa, Debbie and Ron Haley of Napa, California, and Pam Stewart of Santa Rosa, California; eight grandchildren, Kimberly McKinnon, Mike Haley, TK Stewart, Jeff Taylor, Pat Taylor, Ann Taylor, Nicky Richman, an Danny Richman; 11 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Rosalee Draper of Des Moines and Evelyn Dies of Hastings, Nebraska; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.