SI TAYLOR
ADA-Services for Silas Peter (Si) Taylor, Jr., 87, of Ada, are 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Central Church of Christ, Richard Jones will officiate with Eddie Poblete assisting. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
Mr. Taylor died Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at his home. He was born June 11, 1927 at Lovelady, Oklahoma to Silas Peter (Bud) Taylor, Sr. and Bettie Potter Taylor. He graduated from Byng High School in 1946. He later attended East Central University.
He married Ileta Pat Mitchell on August 30, 1946. She preceded him in death on May 20, 2011. Mr. Taylor went to work for Thompson Book and Supply Company in the fall of 1946. He started in the Shipping Department and later, he became the manager of the Ada Store. He also worked at the Oklahoma City store for three years in the purchasing department. He helped at the other stores in Edmond, Durant, Tulsa and Little Rock, AR.
With the end of World War II in 1945, the U. S. Government encouraged an emphasis on Scientific Teaching, especially in the high schools. They provided financial aid to schools and businesses to establish laboratories to assist students in this phase of learning. Mr. Taylor traveled across the state installing these laboratories which required a knowledge of basic carpentry needed to fit the laboratory into mostly pre-existing classrooms. It also required how to obtain and hook-up gas, electricity and plumbing. He retired from Thompson's December 31, 2006 after 60 years of service.
He helped start Rural Water District #7 and served on the Board of Directors as Secretary for 13 years. He was a member of the Byng School Board for 13 years and a member of the Ada Metropolitan Planning and Zoning Commission.
Si and his wife were members of the Ada Round-Up Club and became members of the well-known Quadrills, which was square dancing on horses. The riders rode in pairs, wearing matching western shirts to the accompaniment of music and a regular square dance caller.
He was part-time rancher raising Angus Cattle. In 1998, he was presented with a plaque in recognition of "Pioneer Farm Award" in appreciation of his years of continuous family stewardship of the land.
Si was a longtime member of the Central Church of Christ.
Survivors include a daughter, Bettie Estes-Rickner and husband Bert of Yukon; a son, Dr. Charles Taylor and his wife Susan of Jenks; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a daughter, Linda Sue (Suzie) in 1988; a brother, James Taylor; 2 sisters, Delia Jo Leddy and Lena Hunt and five half-sisters and 6 half-brothers.
Bearers will be Warren Dellinger, Les Brooks, Steve Timmons, Tim Hensley, Perry Don Ross and Dusty Dennis. Honorary bearers will be H. A. Blackburn, Carlton Gray, Jim Wright, Don Butler and O'Dell Deaton.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.