Gordon E. Taylor

Gordon E. Taylor, 91, of Mason City, IA, died Thursday, June 25, 2015, at the IOOF Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on Monday, June 29, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church, 119 South Georgia, with Rev. Kathleen R. Moore officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 28, 2015, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Gordon Taylor memorial fund in care of the family. Gordon was born December 9, 1923, in Dallas Center, IA, the son of Harry and Hazel (Gift) Taylor. He graduated from Dallas Center High School in 1943. Gordon was united in marriage to Eva May Jensen on September 26, 1948, at her family farm, west of Mitchell, IA. Following their marriage, they lived on the Taylor family farm near Swaledale, IA. In 1957, the couple purchased a farm of their own southeast of Mason City where they raised their two children, son, Mark and daughter, June. In 1974, they purchased the Reisch American School of Auctioneering, renaming it the World Wide College of Auctioneering which they sold in 1993. Gordon continued auctioneering full time, and Eva clerked. He deeply loved and enjoyed his family and his community. Gordon was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mason City. Gordon and Eva both loved to travel – especially out West. One of their favorite trips in later years was driving to Alaska. Aside from auctioneering and travel, his favorite past time was being with people. He would daily be found at morning coffee in Hardees or Hy-Vee West, laughing it up with friends, or at lunch in Pies N More, sitting around the community table with the “regulars”. Left to cherish his memory are his son: Mark Taylor and his wife Martha of rural Mason City; daughter: June Newman and husband Mark of rural Garner, IA; grandchildren: Travis Taylor and wife Kristina, Laura Knowles and husband Chris, April Holtan and husband Travis, John Newman and wife Rachel, Amber Wagner and husband Kevin, and Amanda Youngquist and husband Tim; great grandchildren: Emma, Lily and Calvin Holtan, Cooper and Teddy Knowles; brother: Donald Taylor and wife Betty of Mason City; sister: Marilyn Custer and husband Warren of Hugo, OK; sisters-in-law: Elaine Taylor of Clear Lake, Shirley Jo Taylor of Tucson, AZ, Margaret Taylor of St. Petersberg, FL, and Mary Jensen of Mitchell. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2010; and brothers: Howard Taylor, Ralph Taylor, Wendell Taylor, and Alan Taylor. Gordon will be deeply missed by his loving family and many friends.