Frederick "Wayne" Taylor

Frederick Wayne Taylor, known as "Fred" and "Wayne," departed this life peacefully, surrounded by his loving wife and family at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 18, 2025.

Wayne was the firstborn child of the late Fred Taylor Jr. and Georgia Cole Taylor, born on May 30, 1955, in Brownsville, Tennessee.

Wayne graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1973. He worked for several years at Quantum Chemical Corporation in Tuscola, Illinois, and A.E. Staley, and then progressed to become an operator at TCCI Manufacturing, retiring in 2020. Wayne's passion was sports, especially basketball, where on the court, he was known for his tassel socks and his famous jump shot, earning the nickname "Rick Barry." He played in Gus Macker tournaments in Decatur and the surrounding areas for many years, winning numerous trophies for his championship victories. He never missed the Eisenhower vs. MacArthur basketball games or the Turkey Tournaments, where his presence was known as he cheered on young upcoming players. Wayne truly missed his calling as a sports announcer, with his extensive knowledge of sports and his radio voice.

Wayne married his beloved, Brenda Beasley, on July 6, 1985. No children were born to this union, but the love for their nieces and nephews is incomparable.

Wayne faithfully honored his parents, in-laws, and grandparents, and now leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Brenda; brother, Jerry (Barbara) Taylor; sister, Ann (Robert) Fullenwider; brothers-in-law, Londale (Matilda) Beasley, Kenneth (Shirley) Beasley, Calvin Beasley; sisters-in-law, Linda (Joseph) Tracy, Doreen Phillips, Rhonda (Danny) Williams;, and Shirley (Lynell) Williams; uncles, Bobby Cole and Smith "Smitty" Harris; aunt, Dorothy Cole; and a host of nieces, nephews to cherish "Uncle Wayne" memories, along with cousins, friends, and special cousin Blen Springfield.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Georgia Taylor; mother and father-in-law, Lawrence "Hoppy" and Marjorie Beasley; brothers-in-law, Lawrence Beasley Jr., Jerland Beasley, Raymond Phillips, and Ronald "Petie" Beasley; and sister-in-law, Roni Beasley.