John Mark Taylor, born December 1949, died September 20, 2024 with his daughters Kim and Jenny, sons-in-law Lou and Don and granddaughter Bailey around him--praise music and the Beach Boys playing softly. Grandchildren Braxton, Lou, and Jaycee were in our hearts but not present.Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Morrison First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Morrison Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Mark was the youngest of six children of Anna Fern and Roy Taylor. He is predeceased by sibling's Ray, Doug, and Darlene. He is survived by his brothers David and James and James' wife Joyce; in-law-siblings Gary and Judy; and their families.

Mark loved his alma mater, Waynoka High School, and kept up with classmates until he developed Alzheimer's disease. In August 1968, he married his junior high/high school sweetheart, Susan Glisan. As they began their 49th year of marriage, Susan passed away from pancreatic cancer. Mark and Susan loved small-town life and, after college in Alva and a few years in Chandler, settled in Morrison where they lived more than four decades. In Alva, they became fast friends with Eddie and Sheryl Adams. To this day, Kim and Jenny count Eddie and Sheryl as family.

Mark loved Morrison Public Schools and its sports teams, the fishing ponds, Morrison United Methodist Church, and especially the people of Morrison. When he developed Alzheimer's, moving him away from his cherished friends in Morrison was incredibly difficult. It is a special town.

Mark worked with the Oklahoma State Department of Vo-Tech, focused on workforce development. (In young adulthood, he apprenticed as an electrician, taught at Vo-Tech/Career Tech and continued wiring most of his life.) Later in his career, he explained his professional motivation as helping parents get good jobs "so the kids of Oklahoma have better Christmases." He capped off his professional life as Superintendent of Deer Creek-Lamont schools. That role brought him joy and another small community to love.

In 2020, Mark moved to assisted living one mile from his daughter in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He remained fit, often walking a mile or more. His brother moved to the same assisted living in 2022 and everyone embraced "the brothers," enjoying their cheer and banter. His daughters are thankful that despite his illness he remained happy and optimistic. (In fact, this became somewhat problematic when doctors would ask "how are you?" He'd answer "Great but getting better" even when experiencing medical problems.)


In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations be made to the Mark Taylor Memorial Fund, Meridian Technology Center Foundation, 1312 S. Sangre Road, Stillwater, OK. 74074 Attn: Tammy Ford, please note in the memo for Mark Taylor Memorial fund. This benefits Morrison students buying trade supplies. Or donations can be made in Mark's name to, Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd. Springdale, Arkansas 72762, or by going online to, www.givetocircle.org.