Joe Duane Taylor

A Funeral Service for Joe Duane Taylor, 87, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, January 23, 2016, at First Baptist Church, with Dr.Tad Rogers officiating. Visitation will be Friday, January 22, 2016, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel.

Joe went to his heavenly reward Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at his home surrounded by family.

He was born March 3, 1928, in Nowata, Oklahoma, to Emmett Joseph and Helen Irene (Montgomery) Taylor. At he age of 13 they moved to Chicago where he met the love of his life Phyllis "Jean" Taylor. They were married in 1949.

In 1956 he began his career as a State Farm agent in the Chicago area, retiring in 1991 to Mountain Home. He is a former Deacon and long time member of First Baptist Church of Mountain Home.

His passions were his God, his family, flying his airplane, traveling the world and golfing with his Awesome Possum buddies.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Donna Robinson.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Jean; his adoring daughters, Gail (David) Bettenhausen, of Mountain Home, AR, Karen (Tom) Rutledge of Joplin, MO and Debbie (Jim) Bertinetti of Tinley Park, IL. Also survived by grandchildren, Kerry and Keith Bettenhausen, Chad and Kyle Rutledge, Jessa Friedrich and Andrew Bertinetti; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters, Beth Mugfor and Patricia Gaines and many nieces and nephews.

Burial will be in the Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery, Mountain Home, AR, with Keith Bettenhausen, Kyle Rutledge Andrew Bertinetti and Matthew Friedrich as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons at the First Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or Hospice of the Ozarks.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.