Louis Ray Taylor, 91, of El Dorado, died Tuesday, December 22, 2015, at his daughter’s home in Temple, Texas. He was born January 16, 1924, in Strong, Arkansas. He was the son of Henry Nauburn Taylor and Ellen Lorena Gathright Taylor.
In 1943 he was inducted into the Army during World War II. While serving in a Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance combat Squadron in Germany, his Squadron crossed the Roer and Rhine River stopping at the Elbe River, where his platoon’s duties included patrolling and protecting the civilians of Berlin in the period after the war. He was a Platoon, Staff Sergeant. Ray often stated: “That he counted his many blessings and believed that a guardian angel watched over him and that Jesus Christ smiled on him to let him return home from World War II.”
After being discharged from military service in 1946, he returned home to his wife Virginia Phillips Taylor. She was the joy and love of his life, a companion, a supporter, and a helper all along the way. I always looked forward to mail call while serving in the Army, because I never doubted her faithfulness to write every day.”
He began his career at El Dorado Lion Oil Chemical Plant (Monsanto). He was active in the Local Union, committed to helping workers and their families for 30 years. After retirement from Monsanto, he served as an international representative with the Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union (OCAW).
He was a devoted member of the El Dorado First Baptist Church. He was an ordained deacon, member of the Young Men's Sunday school class, sang in the Adult Choir for years and sang in the Prime Timers Choir.
Ray was a family man; he loved his family and lived his life with a thankful heart to God.
He loved to rock and sing to his young children and grandchildren. Always with an endeavor to leave a thought, an impression of love, and plant a seed. He loved fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Our families spent summers together at the camp on the Ouachita River. He loved the beauty of the woods, the sun rising and setting, the stillness and the quietness, but also the different sounds of all God's creation. Just being together with family, sitting around the campfire talking with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, telling his children and grandchildren fishing and hunting tales past down from generations. His children state: "They have precious memories of those camping days with family.”
Survived by one son, Larry Kent Taylor and his wife, Elizabeth Benford Taylor of Alvin, Texas; two daughters, Phyllis Taylor Warner and her husband, William Richard Warner, III, of Warren, Arkansas, and Ramona Taylor (Quarles) of Temple, Texas; six grandchildren, Justin Taylor and his wife Jamie Gohlke Taylor of Stephenville, Texas, Ashley Quarles Turner and her husband, Casey Turner of Hampton, Arkansas, Erin Warner Ledbetter and her husband Corey Ledbetter of Destin, Florida, Amanda Taylor Miles and her husband Randy Miles of Richmond, Texas, Adam Warner of Warren, AR , Garret Quarles and his wife Kaci Fritsch Quarles of Salado, Texas; ten great grandchildren, Rylan Turner and Chloey Turner of Hampton, Arkansas, Gracie Taylor and Cole Taylor of Stephenville, Texas, Allison Miles, Abigail Miles, and Analyn Miles of Richmond, Texas, William Vance Warner of Warren, Arkansas and William Warner Ledbetter of Destin, Florida, Stockton Taylor Quarles, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a 7 year old son, Louis Ray Taylor, Jr., his wife Virginia Phillips Taylor, and 20 year old grandson William Taylor Warner of Warren, Arkansas.
Visitation will be one hour before time of funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday December 28 at Young's Chapel with Dr. Lynn Worthen officiating. Burial will follow in Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young's Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his beloved grandsons, great grandson, and grandsons-in-law: Justin Taylor, Garret Quarles, Adam Warner, Rylan Turner, Casey Turner, Randy Miles and Corey Ledbetter.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church 200 West Main Street, El Dorado, Ar. 71730.
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