Melvin Benjamin Taylor

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, in Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene located at 5750 Highway 277 South. Family and friends are welcome to visit at 12:30 p.m. before the service at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Highway 277 South, Abilene.

Melvin was born December 22, 1920 to H.D. and Gertie Light Taylor in Girard, Texas. Melvin married Bobbie Fae Bilbrey on November 18, 1939 in Stonewall County, Texas. They were married for 61 years until Bobbie’s death in 2001. This beautiful couple lived in Jayton, Hawley, and Abilene before settling on a small farm east of Anson in 1974, which Melvin called “The Ponderosa”. They lived there happily for 37 years. Melvin worked for Onyx Refining Company, Cosden Petroleum, and Fina Oil and Chemical for 40 years before retiring in 1983. Melvin was a Baptist and attended various churches throughout the years in Abilene and Anson, serving as Sunday School Teacher and Deacon. His current membership is at Fort Phantom Hill Baptist Church.

Melvin was a wonderful person who always enjoyed life and family. He loved his wife, Bobbie, greatly. In their earlier years, Melvin and Bobbie traveled throughout Texas and other states pulling their Airstream camper. Once they settled on their farm east of Anson, they enjoyed farming together, caring for their many farm animals, gardening, fishing, hunting, and doing church work. They always had a huge garden plentiful enough to share with neighbors and fellow church members. In the hot summers, Bennie, Brian, and Rusty would join them for a few weeks, Bobbie teaching them everything from sewing to cooking, and Melvin letting them drive the tractor and help him build fences and take care of other farm duties.

Melvin is preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Fae Taylor and two sons, Bennie E. Taylor in 1968 and Bobby W. Taylor in 1993.

Survivors include three grandsons, Brian Taylor and wife, Kelly, of Abilene, Bennie Taylor and wife, Yola, of Santa Clarita, California, and Donald (Rusty) Taylor of Abilene State School. Melvin is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Brian, Brandan, Andrew, Audrey, Mackenzie, and Brennen, as well as, two daughters-in-law, Linda Hagler of Anson and Valary Hamilton of Dallas.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Kapu and the nursing staff at Anson General Hospital for their close watch and care over Melvin. We are eternally grateful.

Memorials may be made to the Anson General Hospital “Respite Care” at 101 Avenue J, Anson, Texas 79501.