Kent William Taylor was born on January 30, 1941, 1^st son to Denzil Willam Taylor and Thersa Ilene (McMillian) Taylor.  He attended a one room school in Elkland and graduated from Fair Grove High School.  He married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Jean McCart the following August 1^st, 1959.  He was the definition of a Hardworking man and always boasted that he was a jack of all trades but master on none.  He was a carpenter and had a construction company with his brothers and built homes all around the Greene County area.  He worked at the Fair Grove Processing plant with his cousin Wallace Potter for a time. He was elected Mayor of Fair Grove Mo. and was responsible for getting the first police care approved and purchased for the city.  He worked with his dad as the owner of Taylor’s Station in Fair Grove.  He worked for the Frisco and Burlington Northern Railroad as a carman.  In 1986 He Purchased the Ash Grove True Value Hardware store where he worked with his wife Beverly & daughter Terrill Harvey with Part time assistance from daughter Missi Lafarlette until he retired in 2000.  Throughout his many careers He was always farming.  He raised feeder pigs for a time, but as his father did, he loved raising cows and did so most of his life.  When he could no longer work his cattle, he loved going to the Springfield Stockyards every Monday and Wednesday.  He had such a good eye for cattle that a few of the other farmers had Kent buy cattle for them.  He enjoyed visiting with all his friends at the sale barn.

He loved deer hunting and never missed a season.  He also loved college basketball, especially Missouri State basketball where he had season tickets.

Kent was an active member of Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist church in Walnut Grove.  He loved singing the old-time hymns.  In fact, everyone at the Railroad where he worked called him Preacher because he was always singing Hymns.

Kent went to his heavenly home on June 24^th, 2025 in his home after a short fight with cancer surrounded by his loved ones.  He was proceeded in death by his parents Denzil & Ilene Taylor, Brothers Jerry, Lynn & Dennis Taylor, Bill Baker, Ronnie Todd and Rick Norton, In-laws Cliff & Barbara Stewart, Larry & Pat McCart, son-in-law Harold Harvey, nephew & niece Jesse & Katie Taylor, & great grandson Ky’Lynn Harvey.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Beverly Taylor, daughters Terrill Harvey & Melissa Lafarlette, grandsons Justin, Nathan & Tanner Lafarlette, granddaughters Danna & Kaylee Harvey, great granddaughters Addison & Ivy Lafarlette and great grandson Morgan Lafarlette, his three sisters Sharlene Baker, Sherry Todd & Sandra Norton and many Nieces, Nephews, cousins and extended families.

Services will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Springfield MO. Visitation is Monday June 30^th from 5:00 to 7:00.  Funeral service is Tuesday July 1^st at 10:00 with an internment at the Mount Olive cemetery, Elkland Mo.

The family ask that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to The American Cancer society.