Obit of Taylor Jr, Raymond John - Bryan County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 1 Dec 2004 Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan.htm ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Durant Democrat 12 Nov 2004 Raymond John Taylor Jr. Raymond John Taylor Jr., Pirtle, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004. He was the son of the late Raymond John and Bertha Crenshaw Taylor. Born in Ada, Oklahoma, on January 20, 1930, he grew up at Troy and graduated from Mill Creek High School. His bachelor's degree in Biology was from East Central University in Ada, and he obtained a Masters and PhD. degrees from the University of Oklahoma in the field of Botany. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He taught High School and Junior High School in Pauls Valley and Oklahoma City for 6 years before coming to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant in 1961. He was married to Constance Elaine Southern Taylor on August 8, 1959. John taught at SOSU for 25 years, retiring as emeritus professor of Biology in 1990. During his years of teaching and research he discovered several new species of plants, two named in his honor. His collection of botanical specimens was the basis of the Herbarium located at SOSU. Over 150 plants not previously known to occur in Oklahoma were found during his botanical explorations, some native and many new invaders. Among the numerous awards he received were Conservation Educator of the Year from the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation, Research Scientist of the Year from the Oklahoma Academy of Science, and the Bess Snodgrass Award given by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He is the author of numerous research papers on the distribution of animals and plants of Oklahoma. After retirement he was able to pursue a life long interest in fossils. He will be missed by colleagues and family. He was preceded in death by parents and daughter Kathryn Elaine Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Connie E. Taylor, son Brian W. Taylor of Flagstaff, Arizona, and daughter Kimberly Ann Delgado, son-in-law Buddy Delgado, and grandchildren Cameron B. Taylor-Smith and Keelan A. Taylor-Smith, all of Corpus Christi, Texas. Memorial service will be at the First United Methodist Church in Durant at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13. Memorial donations may be made to the building fund of the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist Student outreach to the students of SOSU -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan.htm