John Harold Taylor (79) was born on February 27th, 1945 in Junction City, Kansas, to Harold and Doris (Shull) Taylor. John grew up in Junction City and graduated from Junction City High School. He graduated from Kansas State University in Economics and later the University of Kansas Law School. John entered into the bar and was initially a prosecutor in Junction City before entering private practice in Junction City and later Manhattan. He finished his law career in Junction City as a Geary County Prosecutor.
John married Dr. Barbara Diane Dempsey, his wife of 45 years, at All Faiths Chapel at Kansas State University in 1979. They had two children: Dustin Taylor (Lindsay) and grandchildren Nora, Finn, and Murphy of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Dr. Matthew Taylor (Elisa) and granddaughter Hazel of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
John is survived by his wife Diane; sons Dusty and Matt; sister Janice Moyer; brother in law Tom Dempsey; grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Marilyn Taylor; brothers in law Joel Dempsey, James Moyer, and Dave Suhling.
John and Diane lived on their farm in the Zeandale area where he juggled his law practice with his love of angus cows, tractors, baling hay (maybe) and horses. His children were active in 4-H which John remained a strong supporter. John was a ham radio operator and learned morse code for his Extra-Class License; his call sign was NMØM. He enjoyed visiting national parks, bringing back fond memories of his summers in college as a Park Ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He and Diane rode mules down to the Grand Canyon Base and stayed at Phantom Ranch on two occasions.
In his retirement, John enjoyed sports, especially attending Kansas State football games, his cattle and beloved dogs Smokey, Daisy, and Roxanne. All of his grandchildren loved spending time with Grandpa and Grandma on the farm.