Ronald Taylor

Ronald Jackson Taylor, 82, of Mattoon, IL formerly of Oakland, IL passed away at 7:29 P.M. on Friday, February 21, 2020 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Monday, February 24, 2020 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main in Arcola, IL.   Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at the Maranatha Baptist Church, 3400 Dewitt Avenue in Mattoon, IL.  Dr. Dan Haifley and Rev. Dale Tomas will officiate.   Burial will be at a later date in the Gwinn Cemetery in rural Oakland, IL.

Ronald was born on June 2, 1937 in Oakland, IL (Douglas County).  He was a son to Jackson W. and Helen Virginia (Beightel), Taylor.  He married Donna Jean Perkins on March 31, 1957 in Arcola, IL.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Taylor; four daughters, Cathy Taylor of Champaign, IL, Lisa Tomas and her husband Dale of Humboldt, IL, Brenda Scribner and her husband Dave of Sullivan, IL and Ronda Mesa and her husband Pablo of Plainfield, IL; ten grandchildren, Joshua, Caleb, Amy, Wendy, Brodie, Paul, Ashley, Amy, Kyle and Tim, eight great-grandchildren, Draven, Eden, Taylee, Jaxon, Matthew, Freddie, Mickey and Amelia; three brothers, Pete Taylor and his wife Lois of Oakland, IL, John Taylor and his wife Kris of Long Wood, FL and David Taylor and his wife Dawn of Long Wood, FL, and two sisters, Rovene Davis and her husband Danny of Lake Mary, FL and Rachael Cassidy of Rock Hill, SC.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Mike Cassidy.

When Ronald was three years old, his aunt, Ruth Kite would play the piano and he would sit by her side and sing; this is where his love for music began.  His love for music grew and eventually lead to singing in several quartets, the Ambassadors, the Churchmen, the Cornerstones; for more than 30 years his singing took him all over the country.

Ronald was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in rural Oakland, IL where he had served as a deacon.  He farmed for 45 years in Oakland, IL.  He retired from the University of Illinois after 15 years in maintenance at the Vet Research Farm.

After retiring he and Donna lived in Florida for a time.  While in Florida he worked at Strain Communications making Christian Books and Magazines and he also participated in Prison Ministries.

Memorials may be made to the Douglas County Prison Ministry or to the Antioch Baptist Church.