Richard Wesley Taylor

Wesley is preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur Drew and Viola Mabel (Perkinson) Taylor; a brother, Raymond Earl Taylor, a sister, Joyce Brackin, and a nephew, Steve Taylor.

He is survived by his wife Anna Marie “Becky” Kern-Taylor of Belleville, IL, whom he married in 1995; a son Dr. James D. (Michele) Taylor, twin daughters Jenny (Justin) Schwigen and Judy (Jared Heller) Weber; grandchildren Drew, Ava and Ian Taylor; Sean Schwigen; Emily and Jay Weber; ex-wife Anne M. Taylor; nieces Jean (Donny) Bailey, Stacey Taylor, and Lesley (Scott) Gladden, nephew Jackson Ray Taylor; stepchildren Michael (Susan) Kern, Mark (Dawn) Kern, step grandchildren Sarah Kern, Jessica (Lindsey) Kern, Spencer Keck.

Wesley served his country honorably in the United States Army. He began his safety career in 1964 at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Burlington, Iowa. He went on to have a distinguished 35-year career with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Southern Illinois District 5. He loved his family more than anything. He always asked how everyone was. He was a man of few words, short stays, and quirky habits. He loved Hershey bars, Ding Dongs, and coffee. In his spare time, he enjoyed going to Fletcher’s to hang with the “boys.”

He was a loving husband, a very proud father, kindhearted grandfather, and a one-of-a-kind man overall. He will be missed, and heaven gained a beautiful soul.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, July 1st, 2024, at Valhalla Gaerdner Holton Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Valhalla Gaerdner Holton Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois with Interment following.

He will be laid to rest at Valhalla Gardens. Friends may express their memories and condolences at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com. Memorials are appreciated to the Gary Sinise Foundation and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.