Francis Dabney "Frank" Taylor's Obituary
Francis Dabney (Frank) Taylor, 85, of Gainesville, died Wednesday, October 29, 2014 in the Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, following a long illness.
He was born at Ballast Point, Tampa, Florida. Mr. Taylor attended local schools there before enlisting in the U.S. Army, serving as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. At the end of the War, he was chosen a member of an Honor Guard Unit to accompany the First War Dead returned from the European Theater in a parade though New York City and ceremony at Central Park. After the War, he attended University of Tampa before a 22-year career as Manager of Associates Financial Services, opening a branch office in Gainesville in 1953. In 1965, he was named Manager of the Year for the Tampa #1 Region of Florida.
Moving into banking, he was employed at several area banks serving as Vice-President at First National Bank, Florida National Bank and at First National Bank on Alachua. After several years owning and operating West Side Motor and Mower, he returned to banking as Branch Manager and A.V.P for M & S Bank of Hawthorne.
Retiring from banking, he became a Licensed Real Estate Associate working for Century 21 Country Lakes Realty in Hawthorne, Florida USA Realty and Deanna McLendon Real Estate, Newberry. He was affiliated with a number of local and professional organizations, serving as President of Gainesville Lenders Exchange, F. O. P. Associates and Buchholz Boosters. He owned and operated West Side Quail Farm from 1970 until 2003 and sat on the board and served as President of the Southeastern Game Breeders & Hunting Preserve Association as well as the Florida Game Breeders and Shooting Preserve Association.
He excelled in sailing as a member of the S. S. Gasparilla Sea Scouts in his teens in Tampa. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, gardening, Gator sports and was an avid reader, having collected Louis L’Amour’s novels. He was a member of Westside Baptist Church, Alachua County Historic Trust, Matheson Museum, Inc., Friends of Dudley Farm, and Gainesville Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife, Elsie Ergle Taylor; a daughter, Robin Taylor (Stuart) Sheppard, of Jonesville; a son, Randall “Randy” Dabney (Rebecca) Taylor, of Winter Springs; brother, Jim Alford Taylor, of Maryland; two grandsons, Randall Michael and Ryan Dabney Taylor, both of Winter Springs.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 4:00 P. M., in the Chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143rd St., with Dr. Don McGarity, officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park West. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the funeral, beginning at 3:00 P. M. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, 380 Boys Ranch Road, Palatka, FL 32177, or online at www.rbr.org.
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