Terry N. Taylor

After a short battle with cancer Terry Newman Taylor, 80, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on August 6, 2020. To family and friends, Terry was known as Pop, Papa and the K.I.D. Visitation was from 1 to 8 p.m., Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Ward Funeral Home. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service was 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 14 at the United Methodist Church, Washington. Rev. Dan Norwood officiated. Rev. Norwood played the guitar and sang "Unclouded Day," "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and "Go Rest High on that Mountain." Honorary pallbearers were, Posthumous Honorary Pallbearer Tyler Burt, Elizabeth Klenke, Paiten Taylor-Qualls, Brett Herrs, Parker Taylor, Ashten Prechtel, Avery Prechtel, Aiden Prechtel, Paxten Guetter-Taylor and Palmer Guetter-Taylor. Terry was born at home on May 7, 1940 near Cuero, Texas to the late Charles Thomas Taylor and Eva Mae White Taylor. He was the youngest of fifteen siblings. At age 17, the Elvis Presley lookalike joined the United States Air Force where he served in the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant after 21 years of service. Terry met his wife, Jan in 1961 at a dance hall in Grunau, Texas. After three dates he proposed and five months later they were married on September 30, 1961 at Minden, NV. They enjoyed almost 59 wonderful years of marriage together. Throughout his tenure in the Air Force, Terry and Jan were stationed in Europe and the United States. After having four children in Germany, they chose to settle in Washington, Kansas in the late 1970s to care for Jan’s uncle, John McAninch and raise their family. Terry retired from the Air Force in August of 1978, and began a career in law enforcement with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He was hired as Undersheriff in December of 1978 and was sworn in as the interim Sheriff in June of 1982. He then served as the elected County Sheriff until 1989. On May 1, 1989, Terry was sworn in as the Magistrate Judge for Washington County. He served on the bench for 17 years before retiring on December 30, 2006. In further service to his community, Terry served as a member of his local Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, VFW and was an active member of the United Methodist Church. Throughout his life, Terry loved dancing, watching football, playing pinochle, listening to country music, traveling, and watching westerns. But his most cherished past-time was watching his children and grandchildren perform and compete. He and Jan spent countless hours crisscrossing the nation to cheer them on in their pursuits. When he wasn’t traveling to visit family, he spent time drawing and spoiling any animal he could find. Terry is survived by his wife and lifelong dance partner, Jan; their four children: Theresa (Dana) Herrs of Washington, KS, Blake (Trudy) Taylor of Wichita, KS, Elayne (Matt) Prechtel of Colorado Springs, CO, and Dwayne Taylor of Hutchinson, KS; his sister Bobbie (Philip) Unruh of Houston, Texas; sisters-in-law, Lillian Taylor and Gladys Taylor of Victoria, Texas, numerous nieces and nephews; and their treasured ten grandchildren: the late Tyler, Elizabeth, Paiten, Brett, Parker, Ashten, Avery, Aiden, Paxten and Palmer; their four great-grandchildren: Eli, Katherine, Leighton, Hudson; and three honorary grandchildren, Jenna Murphy, Hulbert, OK, Heath Whitaker of Barnes, KS and Daniel Giesselmann of Germany. Terry led a life well lived. A life full of family, patience, humility, and service. Now he is at rest and his family will hold him close within their hearts, finding comfort in knowing that he will continue cheering them on from the best seat in the house. A memorial fund has been established to Meadowlark Hospice or the United Methodist Church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington. Graveside committal of Terry Taylor To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terry N. Taylor, please visit our flower store.