Published: November 19, 2008 08:38 pm            

Walter Merrill Taylor

BLUEFIELD — Walter Merrill Taylor, 87, of 1018 West Cumberland Rd., Bluefield, W.Va., passed away Tuesday morning, November 18, 2008 at the home of his daughter, Sandy.

Mr. Taylor was born July 6, 1921 in South Clinchfield, Va. and spent his youth in Pocahontas, Va. He was a son of the late John Taylor and Bessie McFarlane Taylor. Mr. Taylor was retired as a Chief Petty Officer with the U.S. Navy after 24 years of service. He served in World War II and the Korean Conflict. His most significant duty assignment was as a Chief Boatswain Mate on the U.S.S. Taluga A0-62. He was a member of the Riley Vest Post #9696, the American Legion and was a member of Parkview Baptist Church. Mr. Taylor was also an avid WVU Mountaineer Football fan and was very supportive of his wife's coaching career at Fairview Junior High School.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Lee Ratliff Taylor in 1999; two brothers and one sister.

Survivors include one son, John C. Taylor and his wife Ramona of Metropolis, Ill.; and two daughters, Terri A. Kelly and her husband Jimmy of Jacksonville, Fla., Sandy O'Connor and her fiancé Keith Shrader of Bluefield, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Michelle Kent and her husband Nathan, and Christina Taylor-Lewis and her husband Eric, Ryan Edward Kelly, Zachary Walter Kelly and his little buddy, Austin Taylor O'Connor; and three great-grandchildren, Alexis, Jacob and Emily Kent.

The family will receive friends at Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held in the Mercer Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 21, 2008 with Gary Durham, Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell where family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Council and the West Virginia Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Bible in the Schools, P.O. Box 543, Bluefield, WV 24701.

Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages may do so by visiting www.mercerfuneralhome.com

Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory of Bluefield is serving the family of Mr. Walter Merrill Taylor.

        

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