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The Shreveport Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Donald R. Taylor, M.D.
Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, LA
MANSFIELD, LA - Dr. Donald R. Taylor was born June 8, 1941 in Mansfield, LA to James and Rita Belle Taylor. He entered into rest June 21, 2009 in Mansfield following a sudden illness.
Dr. Taylor was a graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. He graduated from LSU Medical School in 1966. He interned at then Confederate Memorial Hospital, now LSUHSC, in Shreveport. Don met and married his wife Joan in New Orleans in 1966.
In 1967 Dr. Taylor opened his first practice ever in Converse, LA at the Allen Hospital. In 1975 he moved his practice to Mansfield where he has remained to the present day. He was currently the senior member of a five physician medical group founded by himself and Dr. Leigh Dillard. He has served on the Board of Directors of DeSoto Regional Health System for multiple terms and as Chief of Staff of DeSoto Regional Health System for many terms. He has also pioneered to bring Home Health Care to the community from its early stages. At the time of his death he was Medical Director of DeSoto Rehab and Retirement Nursing Facility in the local community as well as Director of LifePath Hospice Care Services.
Dr. Taylor has not only cared for those in his community as a Physician, but has also volunteered his time as the Mansfield High School football team doctor for more than thirty years. He has never missed having Physician coverage at the game, usually himself, whether games were played home or away. In fact, he was recently honored by the school which renamed the stadium to include his name. Throughout the years he has provided athletic physicals on his own time and treated athletic injuries through the "back door" of his office.
Dr. Taylor was a 30 plus year member of the Board of Directors of Community Bank of Louisiana and served on the Executive Committee. He has also been owner and breeder of thoroughbred race horses in DeSoto Parish.
Dr. Taylor was preceded in death by his parents, James T. Taylor and Rita Belle Young Taylor and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Alma Musacchia.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Joan Musacchia Taylor; sons, Donald R. Taylor, Jr., Bruce Anthony Taylor and wife, Tamara; sisters, Glenda Fountain, Rita Spiker and husband, Mike, Cheryl Chausow, Liz Rogers and husband, Richard, Terry Theall and husband, Doug; brothers, James M. Taylor and wife, Karen, Joel Taylor and wife, Linda, Charles Taylor and wife, Carmel; sister-in-law, June Kitchen and husband, Bobby; grandchildren, Joseph Nicholas Taylor, Donald Ray Taylor III, Jarred Bruce Taylor, Jordan Price Taylor, Alex Cade Taylor; special family member, Uncle Floyd Davidson; special nurse and friend of 29 years, Bobbie Nell McDonald; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Funeral services for Dr. Taylor will be held Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mansfield, LA. Interment will follow at Mansfield, Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a visitation Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the Chapel at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA., with a Vigil to be held at 8:30 PM. Father Larry Niehoff will be officiating the services.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Leigh Dillard, Dr. Jeffery Evans, Dr. Ben Leggio, Dr. Doug Sawyer, Dr. Dennis Kamberov, Mr. Bob Plummer, Mr. D. Scott Brown and Mr. Dave Means III. Acting as Honorary Pallbearers, Dick Phillips, Kermie Valentine, F. Scott Moran, Hayes Wilkins, Bo Odom, Dr. Tommy Brown, Officers and Directors of Community Bank and DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle, Police Chief Don English.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Dr. Taylor's name to the DeSoto Regional Cancer Center and St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Mansfield, LA.
Special thanks to Fire District 8 and Dr. Ben Leggio and Dr. Jeffery Evans and the staff of DeSoto Regional Hospital.
Dr. Taylor loved God, his community, his patients, friends, riding his Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, but most of all he lived for and loved his family who was his everything. Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield, Louisiana 318-872-4660.