Richard Eugene "Gene" Taylor, 88, of Atwood, passed away at 9:44 a.m. Monday, August 12, 2019 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Emergency Room, Mattoon.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2019 at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday.  Burial will be in the Arthur Cemetery. Shrader Funeral Home, Arthur is in charge of the arrangements.

Gene was born on June 3, 1931, in Decatur, IL, the son of Haskle and Laura Deckard Taylor. He married Flossie Cousins on June 6, 1976, at the Bach Memorial Chapel in rural Tuscola.  She passed away on April 21, 2007.

Gene is survived by his sisters, Irene McMullen of Arthur, Nadine Taylor of Arthur and Linda Barnett of Atwood; nieces Kimberly Gee and husband Gary of Hammond and Connie Lovellette and husband Bryan of Clinton, Indiana; nephews Max Barnett II of Tennessee and David Barnett of Atwood.  He has 3 step-children, many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers-in-law Ralph McMullen and Max Barnett, great-nephew Scottie Barnett, and one stepson.

Gene was a 1949 graduate of Atwood High School.  He regularly attended the 49'ers class reunions.  He was a life-long farmer.  For many years he was a school bus driver for Williams Bus Service.  He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and had his pilot's license and flew his own single engine airplane.  He also enjoyed taking pictures.  Gene enjoyed accumulating different collections of items over the years.  Gene and Flossie made many long distance trips in their motorhome across the United States.  They spent their winters in Florida.

Memorial donations may be made to Arthur Ambulance Service or The Arthur Home.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com