Jerry D. Taylor

JERRY DEAN TAYLOR March 29, 1941 - April 24, 2009

Jerry Dean Taylor, 68, of Stockton, Missouri, died peacefully at his home on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Jerry was born March 29, 1941, in Livonia, Missouri, the youngest son of Ervin and Crista Taylor.

He gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized at the Stockton Baptist Church and most recently attended the Stockton Assembly of God church.

In 1959 he graduated from the Livonia High School where he lettered in basketball.

He served in the Army from 1964 to 1969 with active duty in the Vietnam War. He attended the Construction Machine Operator Course and received the Honor Graduate Award, with the highest rating in his class. While in the army, he served the 864th Engineering Division and he was part of the first engineering unit to arrive in Vietnam. He also spent a lot of time in Fort Polk, Louisiana during hurricane recovery. He received the Vietnam Service Metal, Expert Rifle Medal, and the Good Conduct Metal.

After the army, Jerry worked as a clearing contractor for the Stockton Dam. Once the dam project was completed he decided to stay in the Stockton area and he started his own dozer business.

Jerry and Linda Mae Brown were married on July 1, 1972, in Fair Play, Missouri.

In 1980, he and Linda bought 20 acres north of Stockton "just to play with." Lin-J Farms is now one of the largest and most sophisticated grain operations in Cedar County. His son, Ricky, has helped him run Lin-J Farms for the last several years, and son, Dale, has helped set up and maintain the grain bins. Full-time employee and friend, Richard Bailey, has worked for the Taylor's for over 33 years, in both the construction equipment operations and the farming operations.

The 1990 Missouri State Fair Farm Family Award was presented to the Jerry Taylor Family by Gov. John Ashcroft. For many years he served as President of the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Ervin L. Taylor; brother, Bobby Taylor, and an infant daughter.

Survivors include his wife, Linda of the home; and their three children and families: Ricky Dean Taylor & wife Tabitha of Stockton, Missouri; son Dale Wayne Taylor & his wife Suann of Union, Missouri, and daughter, Michelle Lynn Orr & her husband Terry of Tishomingo, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Tiffany Taylor, Bradley Dean Taylor and Sarah Taylor of Stockton, Missouri, Cody Taylor of Union, Missouri, Aiden Orr of Tishomingo, Oklahoma; Jerry's mother, Crista Taylor of Moulton, Iowa.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2009, at the Stockton Assembly of God church. Services are scheduled at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at the Stockton Assembly of God Church with Rev. Randy Hayward officiating. Internment to follow at the Stockton Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Reaching the World Children's Home in Myamar and Kenay.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 13 2018, 4:00:05 UTC