Roland Taylor

Roland Taylor, 85 of Terrell, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2014. Roland was born on December 7, 1929 to Roland C. and Willie M. Taylor in Dallas, Texas. Roland would serve his country with honor and distinction in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947 and United States Coast Guard from 1947 to 1954. Roland joined the Dallas Fire Department in 1951. He proudly served his hometown for the next thirty years serving part of his career at the Oak Cliff Fire Station; the last station to have the traditional fireman's pole. Roland met Joann Overall and married the love of his life in 1965. Roland developed many lifelong hobbies. He built homes with his fellow firefighters; was an avid duck and geese hunter; and even went on a hunting safari in continental Africa. Roland bought and sold firearms, specializing in Browning shotguns. A member of the National Rifle Association and Terrell Rifle Club, Roland was also active in the Dallas Arms Collectors, serving on its board of directors for many years. He was awarded the club's President's Award in 1995. Roland's greatest passion was raising and showing Modena pigeons. He received the 2010 National Modena Club Hall of Fame Award; as well as the Louisiana Modena Club Lifetime Service Award. At age 83, Roland raised and showed the First Place Modena Schietti pigeon at the National Show. Roland is preceded in death by his parents, Roland C. and Willie Taylor. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Joann Taylor; daughters, Linda Hersey and her husband Tommy, Peggy Phipps and her husband Barry; granddaughters, Jennifer Phipps and Stevie Adams; great-grandchild, Jayda Phipps. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, December 26, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral service will held he following day, Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery later next week.