Donald Ordway Taylor was born to Thatcher Ordway and Florence (Gooch) Taylor on June 27, 1934 and passed on September 24, 2021 at the age of 87 at Corn, Oklahoma.
Don was a graduate of Watonga High in 1952 after which he was educated at both SWOSU and, later, OU with education, administration and counseling degrees. His service years in the Army were 1957-1959 which were followed by his service years in public education. He taught, counseled or was an administrator, as well as a coach (basketball and baseball), at Okarche, Turpin, Forgan and Balko, OK and Follett/Darrouzett, Texas. Don retired in the late 1990s during which time Janet and Don made their way back to Watonga where they have lived in varying stages of retirement and since.
Don married Janet F. Meier on January 20, 1957, in Hitchcock. To this union was born Mark W. and Ranae L. Taylor.
Don was preceded in death by his parents Ordway and Florence, sister Marbra (at birth), brother Devon and his in-laws Ted R and Sarah (Patterson) Meier.
He is survived by his wife Janet of the home, son Mark W Taylor and his wife Janet D (Hoar) of Watonga, Ranae L (Taylor) Mendoza and her husband Mario A of Turpin, Oklahoma, and grandchildren Mario II (Moe) Mendoza, Kalen A. Taylor, Matthew J Mendoza and wife Conner (Kent), and Emily E Taylor and her significant other Jeremy Quimby. Also surviving in his close family are Basil and Danna (Compton) Taylor and Paul Meier.
Don enjoyed visiting, storytelling, numismatic pursuits, collecting, and watching his grandkids grow. He was able to watch as all four grandchildren graduate with degrees. He pretended he didn’t like his wife’s dog but could be seen scratching her back when no one else was looking (the dog, not his wife). While imposing in height and demeanor, he was exceedingly fair in his dealings while counseling and will be much remembered by all those he came into contact during his education years as well as his private life.
Donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association @ mda.org or the Watonga Hospital Foundation, with Wilkinson Mortuary as custodians.
Funeral services for Don were 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 28, at the Nazarene Church in Watonga with Pastor Kason Oakes officiating. Burial followed in the Cottonwood Cemetery in Hitchcock, Oklahoma with Wilkinson Mortuary of Watonga in charge of arrangements.
