John Haver Taylor
On Saturday, August 7, 2021, John Haver Taylor of rural Orleans, formerly of Smithfield, departed to his heavenly home.
John was born June 9, 1940, to John and Charline (Bruner) Taylor at his grandmother’s sod home north of Broadwater, NE.
He received his early education at school district 151 near the family farm, with practical lessons from his dad and WWII veteran uncles on mechanics and life ethics that were equally important in shaping who he was. In March 1952, the family moved to Miller to farm and raise sheep, then moved in March 1955 to Overton, where he graduated in the class of 1957. During high school he and his brothers worked for his father and many area farmers, including Albert White, a pilot and well driller northwest of Overton who witched wells. He also worked for Foote Oil Co. at Kearney. He “never forgot a vehicle he met” even from childhood and could fix anything with just a pair of pliers.
On May 26, 1961, he married the great love of his life, Karolyn Hagan, making their home on the Wingler place wouthwest of Overton with employment at Progress Products and then Trautmans Sixth Street Locker in Lexington. The young family purchased their home in Smithfield in the mid-1960s after gaining employment at Lexington Co-op, where John made his 40+ years career, retiring in 2002.
After raising their six children, John and Kay moved to rural Orleans in 2008 to enjoy their retirement years together.
John is survived by his children, Charles (Mert) Taylor of Smithfield, Kim (Tom) Bock of Orleans, John Taylor,I I of Orleans, Sonya (James) Cassidy of Holdrege, LaRae Taylor of Orleans and Joshua Taylor of Overton; grandchildren, Jemie (Charlie) Lemmon, Kristina Bowles, T.J. (Jessica) Bock, Kellie (fiancé Cordell Bean) Bock, Adam (Kirsten) Cassidy, Brittany (Alex) Brush, Matt Rice and Taylor Dickinson, and Aurora Taylor; great-grandchildren, Alaysia, Dusty, Bailey, Hunter, Austin, Kendra, Asher, Bradyn, Kimberlynn, Gabriel, Thomas, Oliver, Noah, Liliana, Creed, Draken, Asher, Kynlee, Cassidy, Karolyn, Nova, Izabella, Kennedy; great-great-grandchild, Aiden; sister, Charline Harris of Broadwater; brothers, Norm Taylor of Overton and James (Monica) Taylor of Savannah, Tennessee; sisters-in-law: Marilyn Creed of Bear, Delaware and Loretta Hagan of Belvidere, Illinois; special niece, Gail Johnson, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
John is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karolyn in 2011, and a grandson, Timothy Lee Taylor.
A Memorial service was held August 12, 2021 at the Westmark Evangelical Free Church in rural Bertrand with Pastor Noah Tyler officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington.Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.