Dorris Leroy Taylor, son of William Grant and Martha Emaline Taylor was born at Coldwater, Missouri, February 3, 1895 and passed away November 5, 1975. Roy's family consisted of six brothers and one sister, all of whom have preceded him in death.
After attending grade school in Coldwater, he did his high school work at Fredericktown, Missouri. Roy's greatest ambition was to become a teacher and he taught three terms in a rural school near his home. During this time he was taking correspondence courses from S.E. Missouri State Teachers' College at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
After having seen active duty in France during World War I, he returned to his home county of Wayne and accepted a position as principal of the grades in Piedmont, remaining there five years. During these years, he continued to work toward a college degree by correspondence extension classes and summer school, eventually receiving his bachelor of science degree.
In 1926 he came to Norwood, Missouri, as superintendent of Norwood High School.
On June 29, 1928, he was married to Elizabeth Williams of Norwood. the following fall he taught in the Puxico School going from there to Annapolis, Missouri where he remained as superintendent for five years.
During World War II he accepted a position with the U.S. Retirement Board of E. St. Louis, remaining until 1947.
During the teaching years at Annapolis, the Taylors were privileged to take into their home a six year old foster daughter, Peggy Lou, who remained in their home until she finished school.
On May 4, 1945 their home was again blessed with the birth of their daughter, Elaine Kay.
In 1948 the Taylors came to Norwood and purchased Mrs. Taylor's family home where they remained to the present date. When the family returned to Norwood, they became charter members of the Church of the Nazarene of Mountain Grove. Roy resumed his teaching in 1950, where he spent three years at Ava, Missouri and his last ten years in Mountain Grove, retiring in 1963, completing forty years of teaching.
In 1972 the Taylors again became charter members, this time in the Norwood Church of the Nazarene, recently renamed Taylor Memorial Church of the Nazarene.
Roy leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Betty of the home, Peggy and Joe Callet of St. Louis, Missouri, Elaine and Larry Goss of Springfield, Missouri, four grandsons, three granddaughters, six nieces, five nephews and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 7, in the Craig-Hurtt- Hutsell chapel with Rev. Vernon May officiating. Jim Martin, Shirley Martin and Deanne Martin sang "When They Ring Thoses Golden Bells: and "After All", with Lindle Bringle as organist.
Funeral services were again held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 8, in the Coldwater Baptist Church with Rev. Vernon May officiating. Glendell Twindwell sand "Rock of Ages" and "Beautiful City" with Daphne Hershey as pianist. Pallbearers included Bill Marrow, Olif Taylor, Richard Taylor, Lenord Taylor, Larry Goss and Eugene Taylor.
Burial was in the Coldwater Cemetery with arrangements by Craig-Hurtt-Hutsell.
(This was taken from the Mountain Grove Journal dated Thursday, November 20, 1975)