Donald E. Taylor

Donald E. Taylor of Asheville went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, after a period of declining health. A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was the son of Virgil M. and Mildred Ferguson Taylor. He was a graduate of Asheville Biltmore College, Asheville Law School and the American College of CLU Studies. A veteran of both WWII and Korea, he retired from the US Naval Reserve as Chief Warrant Officer in 1988. He was a member of Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher and was retired from the Don Taylor Agency, State Farm Insurance Company, after 41 years of service. Don was active in the Southern Baptist Conservative Resurgence having served on the Committees of the North Carolina Baptist and the Southern Baptist Convention. He served for 10 years on the Board of Trustees of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was active in community affairs having served as Western Area Vice President of the NC Christian Action League. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western Carolina Rescue Mission, a member of the Board of Better Business Bureau, President of UNCA Alumni Association, a member of the Board at Asheville Christian Academy and a member of Gideon’s International, having served as President of the Asheville Camp. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gregg Taylor; two children, Lisa Taylor Presnell and Gene Taylor, both of Asheville; four grandchildren, AJ, Rachel and Ryan Creasman and Autumn Presnell; six step-grandchildren, Zachary and Michael Scroggs, Lacey, Whitney, Kendrick and Shonda Presnell; a brother, Carroll Taylor of Atlanta and a sister, Gail Taylor Ingram of Asheville. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm Friday at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church with the Revs. Jim Russell, Dr. Billy Cline and Dr. James Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideon’s International, PO Box 1506, Asheville, NC 28802.