David Randolph Taylor Junior was a big, strong man with a tender heart. He was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1955 on February 17th. David died on March 9, 2025, after a fierce battle with Anaplastic thyroid cancer. 

David was born to David Randolph Taylor Senior (Randy) and Edna Lucille Creason Taylor. Randy Senior moved his family to Johnson, Kansas, when Dave was two. He had two brothers, Floyd Taylor and Kenny Taylor and three sisters, Nelda Jean, who died as a baby, Shirley Harrel and living sibling, Betty Lauppe, from Monroe, Louisiana. He graduated from Johnson High School in 1973. 

David’s first child, Monica Desirée Taylor Kilmer, was born on June 6, 1983, in Ulysses, Kansas. She now lives in Greenwood, Nebraska with Justin Hergenrader and has four children, Mikala, 21, attending Peru State University, Meghan, 15 and Calleigh Hergenrader, 10. Mackenzie, 18, a senior at Stanton County High School, lives with Dave and Michelle.
 
David married Michelle Owen Taylor in Johnson, Kansas, on December 24, 1992. She has two children, Eric Godfroy with his wife, Stephenie, and children, Aurora, 12, and Eleanor, 9, from Kansas City, Missouri, and Joanna Godfroy from Howell, Michigan. 

Together Dave and Michelle have a son, David Randolph (Randy) Taylor III. Randy, born on March 25, 1995, and lives in Driftwood, Texas, with his wife, Brynn. 

Dave had a long and extensive career with sprinkler irrigation. Although he thoroughly enjoyed his times hauling cattle cross country, his soul was deep into irrigation and the soil. Dave got his start with Teeter Irrigation and started his own company, Taylor Sprinkler Repair. He then helped start Southwest Irrigation and traveled throughout the US and the World with Zimmatic Irrigation and Watertronics. He worked for several other companies, but his final job was with Skyland during his retirement years. David enjoyed every moment on the sprayer by himself in those big fields. 

David was active as a young man in the Faith Baptist Church, Lucky 4 Square Dancing, hunting, fishing and motorcycles. As an adult, he continued his enjoyment in the outdoors and became a Certified Bow Hunter Instructor, Assistant Hunter Safety Instructor, Assistant Cub Scout Master and Scout Master. And always, throughout his lifetime, Dave’s faith and the Church remained an important part of his life. He was an active member of the Fields Memorial Wesleyan Church and friends to all denominations. 

It is difficult to sum up a man’s life in a few paragraphs. Dave was the type of man who made friends wherever he went. He was easy-going and a hard worker. I am lucky to say that not only was David, my husband of 32 years, but also my best friend.

Memorial service will be Monday, March 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Fields Memorial Wesleyan Church in Johnson, Kansas, with Pastor Erik Miravete officiating. Memorial contributions may be given to the Stanton County Cross Country Team in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.