George R. Taylor

George R. Taylor, 87, of Jacksonville passed away Saturday, December 19, 2015, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.

He was born November 11, 1928, in Springfield, the son of George W. and Jesse Hackett Taylor. He married Lois Meier on October 8, 1971, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield and she survives.

He also is survived by three children, G. Michael Taylor, Jason Taylor (Jenna McPeek) and Lisa Taylor-Horton (Kyle), all of Jacksonville; and three grandchildren, Jordan Taylor, Jace Taylor and Lux Horton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mae Saunders and Evelyn Spengler; and a former wife, Roberta Mae Taylor.

George attended schools in Spaulding, Riverton and Springfield before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in Europe from 1945 to 1948 as an aerial photographer during World War II. Upon his return, he studied at Illinois College, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree and presented with the Wall Street Journal Award for Excellence in Economics. He later did graduate work at the University of Illinois.

George was first employed as an accountant with the Thomson and Thomson Law Firm in Jacksonville. In the 1960s, he began a distinguished career with the State of Illinois, where he served with the Superintendent of Public Instruction. There, he was charged with writing the finance code for Illinois Public Schools. He was hired as the finance officer for SIU School of Medicine in Springfield and later served as the assistant to the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. George worked many years for the Illinois Department of Transportation before retiring in 1991. Following his retirement, George worked several years at Blackhawk Village in Jacksonville.

George was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonville and a life member of VFW Post #1379 and AMVETS Post #100. He also was a member of American Legion Post #279, Jacksonville Moose Lodge and the former Jacksonville Jaycees. George was a devoted life member of Jacksonville Elks Lodge #682, where he served in many leadership roles, including exalted ruler and secretary. In recognition of his dedication, he was twice selected Elk of the Year and named to the Jacksonville Elks Hall of Fame in 2003.

Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonville with burial with military honors at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. Memorial gifts are suggested to Faith Lutheran Church or Jacksonville Elks Lodge #682 Youth Programs. Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.buchanancody.com.