James A. Taylor Jr.

Jim is survived by his wife of 43 years, Beverly Orr Taylor. Jim was preceded in death by his sons, James Michael Taylor and Timothy Wade Taylor, and a brother, Raymond Taylor.

Jim was a pillar of his family and leaves his loving granddaughter, Havala Olson Taylor Pye (Nick) of North Carolina; and grandson, Wade Olson Taylor of Tallahassee; and their mother, Suzanne Olson Taylor of North Carolina; as well as great-grandson, Keszick Taylor Pye of North Carolina. He also leaves his two sisters, Jean Palmer (Wayne) and Geraldine Rhodes (Dusty) of Pensacola; and one brother, Charles Clennon Taylor (Heidi) of Pace; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Jim graduated from Jay High School in 1948 and worked as a civilian for the U.S. Navy for 3 ½ years. Jim later joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. After returning home in 1952, Jim joined the then Chemstrand Company and spent 20 years as chemical operator and foreman. Jim attended Pensacola Junior College, then the University of West Florida and earned a degree in accounting from the University of West Florida in 1971 while working full time at Chemstrand/Monsanto. Jim left the then Monsanto Company in 1973 to join the Florida Credit Union League in Tallahassee as Vice President of Field Operations and later the CEO of Southeast Corporate Federal Credit Union until his retirement June 30, 2001.

During 48 years of full-time employment, Jim served in many positions as he was called on because of the need for his service. A few of the volunteer positions he served were officer and chairman of the Chemstrand/Monsanto Credit Union, chairman of the supervisory committee of U.S. Central Credit Union, officer and Chairman of Central Credit Union of Florida, member of the Credit Union Brokerage Service in Kansas City, director of East Pay Inc. (ACH Association), member of the Board of NCUA Stabilization Fund, member of the Federal Reserve Bank Advisory Committee in Atlanta, director and treasurer of the Florida Credit Union League, and director and president of the Escambia Credit Union Chapter. He was a member of the Pensacola Masonic Lodge No. 15 since 1969 and a member of the Marzuq Shriners of Tallahassee since 2008. At the time of his death Jim was serving on the Gulf Winds Credit Union Board of Directors.

Jim always had a love for owning property and building houses. While in the Pensacola area he bought numerous lots and undeveloped properties and built six houses while going to school and working full time at Chemstrand/Monsanto. In Tallahassee he built two houses and remodeled two more. He lived in the last one over 40 years before his death. He also owned a small cattle farm of 24 acres near Lloyd on which he raised Black Angus cattle.

Viewing is set in Tallahassee for Thursday, November 4 at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, 1737 Riggins Rd. from 10 am to 12 noon. Viewing in Pensacola is set for 9 am on Saturday, November 6 followed by Funeral Services at 10 am and internment at Bayview Memorial Park and Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Hwy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Big Bend Hospice Foundation, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.