Leslie Wade Taylor

Leslie Wade Taylor, longtime resident of Whiteface, Texas, passed into eternity at 7AM, Saturday, February 21, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Gaylia Peters Taylor; his parents, Leslie Lee (Book) Taylor and Janie Lucille (Mur) Taylor; and his sisters, Billy Fae Minyard and Helen Daphne Walker. His is survived by his son, Ronny Taylor and wife Jeannie of The Woodland, Texas; his daughter, Leslie Downs of Whiteface, Texas and husband Tom; brother Floyd Oscar Taylor and wife Ludean of Morton, Texas and in laws, Peggy Gillispie of Brownfield, Texas, Joyce Peters I of Lubbock, Joyce Peters II of Pampa, Texas and Doak Walker of Austin; grandchildren, Tommy Roubik of Dallas, Tara Taylor of Memphis, TN, Jordan Taylor of Fort Worth, Troy Taylor Downs of Lubbock, Texas, Jacob Downs of Lubbock, Texas and Keegan Freeman of Whiteface, Texas; great-granddaughters, Hannah Roubik of Dallas, Texas, Alhna Downs and Aubrey Downs of Lubbock, Texas; in addition to the immediate family, a host of relatives and friends. Wade graduated Valedictorian of Whiteface High School in 1946. After a brief time at Texas Tech, he got married and had to go to work. Wade’s career started at White’s Auto in Morton, Texas. From there he was driller for Western Drilling Rig #11. After working for his brother-in-law, E.C. White, he owned and operated Whiteface ‘66’ Service Station. He then began farming and managed the Whiteface Coop Gin until retirement in 1979. He ended his career working for E.C. White Oil Co. His lifetime accomplishments included, but not limited to (because we can’t remember all) were: 1) Mayor Whiteface Texas; 2) President of Whiteface School Board; 3) Co-founder of the Whiteface Little League & Babe Ruth; 4) Founder of Wade Taylor Scholarship Fund at Whiteface Schools funded from school farm land; 5) Founder of endowed scholarships at South Plains College; the Gaylia Taylor Scholarship and Julean Weber Scholarship Fund; 6) Chairman of Cochran County ASCS; 7) Chairman of Cochran County Appraisal Board; 8) Chairman of Cochran County Dem-ocratic Party; 9) Elder of Whiteface Methodist & Christ United Methodist Church in Levelland; 10) Board Member of Plains Coop Cotton Growers; 11) Board Member of Coop Oil Mill; 12) Board Member of National Cotton Growers Association; 13) Honorary member of FFA Chapter Farmers; 14) Texas Agricultural Extension Service Commendation recipient. Of all of Wade’s accomplishments, he was most proud of obtaining the 32nd Degree of the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge. He served in all the chairs of the Morton Antelope Masonic Lodge. In 1999, he was awarded the Golden Trowel, this being the most prestigious award given in the Masonic Lodge. Despite all of Wade’s achievements/success’, he remained a humble and spiritual man who felt blessed to be a part of his community, church and mostly his adoring family. Rest in peace, Wade. We will join you soon. Spe-cial thanks to Covenant Hospi-tal and the doctors and nurses that cared for Wade, especially the 4th floor Heart ICU staff, and the Palliative Care Unit. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Wade & Gaylia Taylor Scholarship at South Plains College or Christ United Methodist Church in Levelland, Texas.