William Taylor

William E. "Slug" Taylor, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Dec. 9, 1923, in McClure, Ill., to Clifton L. and Cora Wilcher Taylor. He and Kathryn A. Mainer were married June 18, 1948, in Piggott, Ark.

Taylor received three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart while proudly serving his country with the Army Air Corps in Saipan and Iwo Jima during World War II.

He was a member of Maple United Methodist Church, VFW, American Legion, and was active in Little League baseball. He worked a number of years with Thilenius Distributing, and was a sales rep more than 30 years with Philip Morris.

Loving survivors include his wife, Kathryn Taylor of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Terry Taylor and wife Tricia of Parker, Colo., Steve Taylor and wife Phyllis of Grand Junction, Colo.; two grandsons, Chris Taylor and wife Kelly of Jackson, Tyler LaPlaunt of Parker; three granddaughters, Sara Taylor of Cape Girardeau, Britney Taylor, Jessica Peek and husband Randall, all of Grand Junction; three great-stepgrandchildren, Jacob, Shelby and Luke Starzinger, all of Jackson; three great-granddaughters, Mariah and Ashlyn Taylor of Cape Girardeau, and Nevaeh Peek of Grand Junction.

He was the last of his siblings of which six brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Barron Willer officiating. Burial will be in Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Ill.

Memorial contributions may be given to Maple United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.