Dennis Michael Taylor 78, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Sunday, February 11, 2024 at his home in St. Joseph, MO. He was born at home on April 7, 1945 in Savannah, MO, son of the late Marjorie and Harvey Taylor Sr. On December 28th, 1986 he married his best friend Pati Brown Taylor. They shared 38 years together before she passed in October, 2023.
Dennis served in the United States Army and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He worked for Hulcher Services, where he traveled to work on derailed trains. He worked construction in his earlier years and then became the maintenance supervisor at Saxton Health Care for many years before enjoying retirement. He always had a project going on and loved working in his yard and had an awesome garden. Dennis knew how to run about any tool there was and was constantly fixing or building something. He was very handy and would help anyone with their projects too. Dennis enjoyed Nascar and had season tickets for several years at the Kansas Speedway. He was a huge Earnhart fan. He loved watching football and baseball as well. In the warmer months you'd find him out in his garage scrolling through the channels looking for some type of sport.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Patricia Ann Taylor, son, Timothy G. Helsel, brothers, Steven, Tim, David, and Joe Taylor, and a sister, Pamela Sue Taylor. Survivors include 7 children: Kenny Bob (Rhonda) Helsel, Jr., Jay (Michele) Helsel, Kim (Rod) McCan, Bobbie Kennedy, John Barger, Robin Johnson, and Dennis Taylor Jr., brothers, Harvey "Bub" Jr., Curtis, Lonnie, John, Jim and Charles Taylor, a sister, Leslie Fletchall. Dennis was blessed with grandchildren Heather Bowman, Dusty Helsel, Carlie Campbell, Rodney McCan JR, Jared McCan, Audrey Hanson, Ashley Garton, Travis Helsel as well as 7 additional grandchildren from his first family.
The family will receive friends from 1- 2:00 PM on Friday with a memorial service and public live stream; starting at 2:00 pm Friday at the Rupp Funeral Home, the inurnment will be at the King Hill Cemetery. Online condolence, obituary and public live stream at www.ruppfuneral.com.
