Eugene Samuel "Gene" Taylor

Eugene "Gene" Samuel Taylor, age 77, of Springfield, Missouri passed away at 10:45 am, Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at Springfield Mercy Hospital.

Gene was born to Cosby S. Taylor and Opallean (Slaughter) Taylor in 1948. He lived in Verona, MO until he attended Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and graduated in 1970.

Gene was in the Naval Reserves in Springfield and served in active duty at Subic Bay, Philippines. He had a successful career as a salesman, selling insurance and then banking equipment for 47 years.

Gene loved his family and enjoyed a 55-year marriage to Vonda (Etheridge) Taylor. He loved his children Stephanie Griffin (Phil) of Nixa, MO and his son Matthew Taylor (Carin) of Seattle, WA. He was so proud of his four grandsons: Austin Beckner (Dori) of Springfield, MO, Peyton Beckner of Republic, MO, Gavyn Beckner of Republic, MO, Caleb Griffin of Springfield, MO and his granddaughter, Caitlin Griffin of Springfield, MO.

His lifetime hobby was fishing with his father, friends, and Vonda. His happiest days were on Table Rock Lake. Gene and Vonda also enjoyed traveling together. Some of their favorite adventures were whale watching in WA, seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, riding a gondola in Venice, and many trips to San Miguel, Mexico.

He is survived by three sisters: Judy Taylor of Royse City, TX, Jo Wise (Kenn) of Edmond, OK, and Janet Wright of Garland, TX. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Vonda's parents, Ralph and Betty Etheridge, his sister-in-law Alfreda Arnold of Mountain Home, AR, an uncle and three aunts of Kansas City, MO.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 30 th from 4:00-6:00 pm at Greenlawn Funeral Home North at 3506 North National Ave, Springfield MO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gene's memory to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Attn: Donations, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or by visiting this link: https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/LandDonationInfoForm.pdf