John Richard Taylor

John Richard Taylor, age 86 years, 7 months and 9 days, of Steelville, Missouri passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Cuba Manor. He was born September 1, 1937 in Cuba, Missouri to Harold and Bessie Thomas Taylor.

Growing up in Steelville, he graduated from Steelville High School in 1955. After working at Brown Shoe Company for two years, he enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University and graduating in 1961 with his B.S in Education and also earned his Master’s Degree in 1966.

John was united in marriage to Carolyn Langston on June 3, 1962 and to this union two daughters were born.

John started his career of teaching at Cherryville School in 1961 where he taught physical education and social studies along with coaching all of the sports. In 1963-1966, he started teaching social studies and physical education with coaching at Cuba High School and became principal in grades 7-12. In the Fall of 1969, he came home to Steelville to teach physical education and health and coaching the Junior Varsity boys basketball team. In the Fall of 1970, he took the position as principal of grades 7-12. In 1975, he began his tenure as principal of grades 9-12 at Steelville High School. After 30 years  in Education, John retired. In 1995, John began a new career as a newly-elected District 1 Crawford County Commissioner for a term.

John couldn’t stop there and was well known for his volunteerism throughout Steelville. He was an active member and elder of the Steelville Presbyterian Church for many years, member of the Steelville School Board for 12 years, member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and Retired Teachers Association, member of Gibbs Care Scholarship Trust, member of the Steelville Scholarship Foundation, member of the Golden Echoes Board and volunteer for delivery of meals, member of the local Lions Club, member on the 911 board, member of the Steelville Cemetery Board, committee member on the Crawford CO Republican Committee, volunteer for the Steelville Food Pantry and in his spare time had many other interests throughout the years. He enjoyed bowling and playing softball, gardening, watching St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and MU Football, traveling with Carolyn whether by a cruise ship or bank travels and playing a “mean game of Aggravation.” He also enjoyed collecting Indian artifacts from his younger years to later in life.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Bessie Taylor; two brothers, Jim (Elaine) Taylor and William “Bill” (Pauline) Taylor; sister, Mildred (Lee) Farmer; sister-in-law, Ann Langston Price; and three brothers-in-law, Raymond Langston, Richard Shelley and Carmen Halbert.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn Taylor; two daughters, Margaret (Chris) Ingram of Des Moines, IA and Melissa (Jim) Aubuchon of Aurora, IL; four grandchildren, Michael John Ingram of St. Petersburg, FL, David Christopher Ingram of Columbia, MO, Madalyn Rose (Eric) Gerecke of St. Louis, MO and Anna Claire Aubuchon of Bloomington, IL; sisters, Pat (John) Havens of St. James, MO, Georgia (Wayne) Helderman of Whitewater, MO and Wanda Halbert of Steelville, MO; brother-in-law, Perry Price of Rolla, MO; sisters-in-law, Debbie Langston of Jefferson City, MO, Sally (Tom) Russo of Jacksonville, FL and Pat Shelley of Atlanta, GA; many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and many friends.

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024 with Rev. Wendy Downing officiating. Special music of "How Great Thou Art", "We Will Meet Again" and "Hymn of Promise" was sung by Bryan Taylor with Jan Weisel on piano. Memories were shared by Rev. Jerry Beers and family members, Anna Aubuchon, Jim Aubuchon and Bryan Taylor.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Jim Aubuchon, Chris Ingram, Michael Ingram, David Ingram, Eric Gerecke and Bryan Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in John’s name to the Steelville Food Pantry.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

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