O'FALLON — Rev. Raymond Gary Taylor, Missouri Baptist Convention director of evangelism, passed away May 29, after a long battle with cancer. He was 70.
Gary Taylor
|
Visitation is scheduled from 4:30-9 p.m. June 1 at First Baptist Church, O'Fallon, with funeral services to be conducted at 10 a.m. June 2, also at First Baptist.
The son of the late Raymond J. and Laura Taylor, Rev. Taylor graduated from William Jewell College and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He led several Missouri Baptist churches as pastor, beginning his ministry at Dresden Baptist Church in 1963. In addition, he served Lamonte First Baptist, Rock Hill Baptist, Tower Grove Baptist in Missouri and Dalewood Baptist in Nashville, Tenn.
He became pastor of First Baptist Church, O'Fallon, in 1989, where he served until accepting the convention post in 2007.
As a pastor, he also served the MBC in several capacities, including as convention president in 1998-99.
Rev. Taylor is survived by his wife, Cindy, of the home; five children, Gary Paul Taylor and wife Beth, Mark Taylor and wife Cora, Deborah Shinkle and husband Nathan, Drew Snyder and wife Amanda and Joel Snyder and wife Jan; eight grandchildren; and two sisters.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Taylor.
The MBC has set up the R. Gary Taylor Memorial Fund for Evangelism to honor and support his passion for evangelism. Donations may be sent to Missouri Baptist Convention, 400 E. High St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.
