Richard Earl Taylor, 86, of Wauchula, passed away on Friday, January 22, 2016 at his home. Born in Duquoin, Illinois on March 18, 1929, he was a resident of Hardee County for the past 26 years, coming from Tamaroa, Illinois. Mr. Taylor was a member of First Christ Church. He had been employed as a coal miner and was also a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Infantry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Lyle Taylor and Gretchen Roberts Taylor, and his wife, Trella Taylor. Survivors include one son, Tom Taylor and wife Mary Jane of Wauchula; one sister, Dorothy Marlow of Naples; four grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Diedra Maria Restoff, Erica Dawn Eisenhauer, and Tamara Lyn Taylor Camilo; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler and Megan Restoff, Derek and Mia Camilo Taylor, Callie and Matthew Eisenhauer.