Gayland Dean Taylor
Gayland Dean Taylor, 75, died Tuesday (March 10,
2009) at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis campus in Wichita.
Dean was born in Knox City, Texas, the first of
three sons of Grady Leon and Lula Pearl Puckett Taylor.
His early days were filled with the joys and beauty
of Fannin County, where he was raised. He spent many hours in the summer
teaching the young locals to swim at Fannin County State Park, where his father
was the park ranger.
Dean graduated from Bonham High School in 1951. He
served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the USS Persistent
and USS Zeal. He was presented a medal for military merit, and for the ship's
service with the Formosan Navy in August 1955, crew members were awarded the
U.S.-R.O.K. Mutual Defense Commemorative Badge 1955-1979, and the Honor Medal
for 823 Bombardment.
Dean was employed for many years with Sears-Roebuck,
where he was a service man and finally assistant service center manager in
Dallas. A relocation of employment took him and his family to Wichita in 1977.
He moved the family to Newton in 1981 and remained there until his death. Dean
retired from Boeing Aircraft in 2002 and spent his free time with his
grandchildren, as much as his health would allow.
He had a great interest in history, especially
family genealogy, and spent many hours in research and contact with cousins
around the country. He was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the
USS Zeal Association.
One of his greatest joys was Christmas, and his
artistic talent of gift-wrapping was matched by few others. Often times, the
gift was truly secondary to the presentation. He was notorious for starting a
project but never quite finishing before something more exciting came along.
The projects he did finish were detailed and cherished. His pride and joy was
visiting his grandchildren and seeing them in their activities.
Dean is survived by his wife, Lydia Schumpert Taylor
of Newton; seven children, Rebecca Leigh (Alan) Bansemer of Newton, Sean
Michael (Patty) Taylor of Derby, Christopher (Marcey) Taylor of Spring Hill,
Tenn., Tanya Taylor (Benjamin) Lyon of Fort Drum, N.Y., Jeffery Dean (Martha)
Endsley of Tulsa, Okla., Tami Jo Newhart of Plano, Texas, and Grady Lynn
(Trish) Endsley of McKinney, Texas; two brothers, Tom (Lana) Taylor of Phoenix
and Pat D. Taylor of Arlington, Texas. He also is survived by 16 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at
Petersen Funeral Home, 215 Main St. in Newton.
Memorial services will be celebrated at 11 a.m.
Saturday at Columbus Avenue Church of Christ, 101 Columbus Ave. in Newton.
Family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Dean will be buried at 3 p.m. Sunday at Willow Wild
Cemetery in Bonham, Texas.
The family requests memorial donations be made to
Agape Resource Center, 101 Columbus Ave., Newton, KS 67114.
Online condolences may be made at
www.CremationSocietyofTN.com.
