Orville D. Taylor

Orville Donald Taylor, 90, of rural El Dorado Springs, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2018, in Community Springs Healthcare.

He was born in a log house in El Dorado Springs on Oct. 4, 1927, to Lester and Edyth (Harvey) Taylor, one of five children. There were five acres on the “home” place in the northwest corner of El Dorado Springs and that gave the children lots of room for growing up. The place was purchased in 1915 by his grandpa, David P. Taylor, just a year before he died.

Orville started school at age five at the North School and spent the first six years there. Seventh and eighth grade came at the South School and high school at EHS.

He joined the Naval Reserve the summer of 1945, after graduation. After a little less than a year on active duty, he was released to serve on inactive duty for a period of time. In 1953 he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served two years. Fifteen months of that was on the island of Okinawa in the Southwest Pacific. He was honorably discharged in April, 1954.

Upon release he started his career driving trucks, serving a total of 35 years hauling sawdust and express freight. He retired on December 31, 1989.

On June 5, 1948, he married Norma Lorraine Davis, and they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage on June 5, 2018. He lived his entire life in New Tiffin on 9.4 acres. Because of failing health he moved to Community Springs Healthcare in October of 2016. Norma moved to the Barone Nursing Home in Nevada, MO, the same year.

Orville became a ham radio operator in February of 1957 and was active in the ham club until his failing health prevented him from driving. His other hobby was gardening, and that began the year he and Norma were married. This kept him busy and active. At 80, he put in a very large garden, from which Norma canned and froze produce. When he moved to Community Springs, he still had a garden there.

He took up the hobby of computer when he retired. He said it kept his brain active with its many challenges to continually learn for as long as he lived.

Orville is survived by his wife, Norma, of Nevada; one brother, Francis Taylor and wife, Nancy, of Leesville, LA; two sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held on Friday, May 11, in Bland-Hackleman Chapel. Burial followed in El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Ethan Stewart, Jay Stewart, Ron Snodgrass, Brian Nichols, Delbert Bybee and Derek Taylor. Honorary pallbearers were: Ray Bozarth, Gordon Wisner and Howard McPeak.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.