Clarence C. Taylor, son of the late Harry and Isa Link Taylor, was born November 17, 1914, in Bloomfield, Missouri and died May 25, 2012, in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 97 years, 6 months, and 8 days. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Taylor, his sister, Blanche Howard, and his three brothers, Howard, Vernon, and Jimmie Taylor.
Surviving are his daughter, Dorothy Pulley, of Bloomfield; his grandsons, Trevor and Timothy Pulley, both also of Bloomfield; seven great grandchildren and one great great grandson.
Clarence C. Taylor; ...Clarence, Daddy, Mr. Taylor, Grandpa, Grandpa Taylor; ...son, brother, husband, lover, father, grandfather, deacon, colleague, friend, mentor, teacher, leader, ... hero.
Let me tell you about our hero. First, a hero has honor. Clarence's word was his bond. You can depend on him. He shared his thoughts and opinions honestly. He could drive a hard bargain, but he would never cheat you. He offered his hand in friendship and support because he is a man of honor.
Second, a hero has purpose. Grandpa's purpose was in giving, and always to the best of his ability. He gave his time, his wisdom, his money, and the sweat of his brow - as an elected member of the Bloomfield School District Board of Education, as southeast Missouri area sales and delivery supervisor for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, in growing Pulley's Strawberry Farm, serving as deacon to his church family, fishing and hunting for and with family and friends, building houses and sheds and porches and anything anybody needed. But in my mind, he especially fulfilled his purpose by giving himself to his daughter, grandsons, and great grandkids to show them how to do things right, then guide and correct and watch over them so tha they, too, are fulfilling their purposes to the best of their abilities.
Finally, a hero lives his love. Our hero loved his Irene through 67 years of marriage (yes, you should clap for that!), through seven lonely years as a widower, and he continues to love her today. Our hero loves his Dot, and his Trevor and his Tim, his granddaughters-in-law, all his great and great-great grandkids. I know - because he was always there; no matter what.
We can see his love by his life. That's why he's our hero.
Friends may visit on Tuesday May 29, 2012, after 9:00 a.m. at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday May 29, 2012, at 11:00 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri with Rev. Kevin Eskew of Bloomfield, Missouri officiating.
Interment will be in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of all arrangements.