George Lee T aylor, 94, of Pella, IA formerly of Cabool, MO went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 20, 2024. George was born in Cabool, MO on February 23, 1930 to Clarence Eugene Taylor and Nina Viola (Trent) Taylor. He was the youngest of four children and grew up on a farm near Cabool.
He attended grade school at Stultz, MO and high school in Cabool, MO. As a junior, George left high school to serve in the United States Marine Corps for four years and was stationed at various camps across the United States and abroad. He spent six months in Korea during the Korean Conflict where he served as a radio operator and directed Air Force pilots as they conducted bombing missions.
After being discharged from the Marines in 1951, he moved to Peoria, IL and worked at Caterpillar Inc. While living in Peoria, he met and married his first wife, Delores Ridings, who tragically died in a car/bus accident in 1954. George and Delores had one child, Debra.
After he returned to Cabool, George met and married Betty Jane Sullivan of Sergeant, MO on December 24, 1955. To this marriage of nearly 70 years, sons James, Charlie, Dan and Tim were born.
Feeling called by God to the ministry, he attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, graduating in 1963. George was ordained as a minister at Mount Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church located near Cabool. For a short time, he pastored Linneus Freewill Baptist Church in Linneus, ME and then for 23 years pastored Oak Grove Freewill Baptist, Bado Community Church and Shady Grove Community Church located in the Cabool area. Throughout his time as a pastor, he worked in a number of area grocery stores, Mid-America Dairyman and Hocker Oil Company where he retired for the last time at age 80.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Francis Grogan and Florence Brown; his brother, William Taylor and his sons, Danny and Tim Taylor. Surviving are his wife, Betty; his children, Debra (Don) Howell of Lincoln, KS, James (Nanette) Taylor of Belize, Charlie (Julianne) Taylor of Pella, IA and daughter-in-law, Lisa Taylor of Branson, MO. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
In 1955, George was saved by Jesus, our Savior, and has now entered the gates of his eternal home in Glory.
“His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Matthew 25:21 KJV
