Rev. Daniel Reece Taylor's Obituary
Daniel Reece Taylor
August 22, 1931- January 31, 2023
Rev. Daniel R. Taylor, beloved pastor, husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and servant of the Lord, went home to his Savior Jesus Christ on January 31, 2023. He celebrated 91 wonderful years. Dan’s smile radiated with the peace and light of the Lord. He shared warmth, kindness, humor and generosity with all whom he met. He faithfully spread the Gospel as a pastor for 58 years.
Dan was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and graduated from North Dallas High School. He received a bachelor of business administration degree from The University of North Texas. After college, he studied law at The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, and worked as a legislative session report writer for the Texas Legislature at the Capitol. He then served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Washington, D.C.
Dan was called to serve the Lord as a pastor and received his master of divinity and master of religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He met his beloved wife Beverly in church choir, after seeing each other ‘across the pews.' They married the same year he was ordained as a minister with Dr. W.A. Criswell presiding over both milestone events. Dan & Beverly recently celebrated 64 years of marriage.
As a pastor, Dan sought to make the Bible relatable and practical in people’s lives and fulfill Jesus Christ’s Great Commission. Dan pastored rural, suburban and urban churches throughout his ministry in Texas, Washington D.C. and Maryland. He was a thoughtful preacher and an engaged and hands-on leader, working with his churches to create new ministries and activities bringing people to Christ, and enlivening beloved traditions for all generations. Dan was honored to preach to President Jimmy Carter and his family as pastor of First Baptist Church, Hagerstown, MD when the president visited from his Camp David retreat.
Dan was active with the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware, the Baltimore Baptist Association, Baptist Home of Maryland and his local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, where he received a Paul Harris Fellow Award. He served as a trustee on the Southern Baptist Annuity Board/ GuideStone, working to help bless the lives of those who serve God.
Dan taught New Testament at Navarro College, Coriscana, as a young pastor, and wrote weekly ‘Ask The Reverend’ newspaper columns for the Hagerstown Daily Mail, Morning Herald and Baltimore News American. Dan’s book 'Voices Above the Crowd’ was published by Word Books in 1970- a reflection on life decisions from the Christian perspective with responses from Norman Rockwell, Conrad Hilton, Tom Landry, and many others.
Dan offered his kind and empathetic pastoral care wherever needed- in hospitals, with the homebound, in the sanctuary or church foyer, on a church retreat or in a neighbor’s kitchen, on people’s best and worst days, early in the morning or late at night. He was a hands-on pastor-- picking people up for church, organizing and holding revivals, overseeing Vacation Bible School to senior's Bible Study, spearheading the campaign to raise a new steeple, offering a physical church home for churches without a building.
Dan shared his warmth at home as an empathetic and supportive husband and father who showed his children the love of Jesus Christ, and was a role model of kindness, generosity and compassion for them. He supported all of his children’s pursuits in the arts, education and sports- throwing the football at every turn with his son, active as a concert and marching band booster, giving the invocation at their school functions and being front row at ballet and piano recitals and art shows. From sharing his love of words, reading, history and ‘dad jokes’, to waking them each morning with his favorite songs on the stereo, Dan sought to give his children everything he loved from his childhood and so much more. Dan treasured his marriage to his beloved wife Beverly- his confidant, partner in life and ministry, and the cherished love of his life.
Pastor Dan is survived by his daughters; Allison Henninger & husband Guy, Ann Taylor Daddi & husband Pino; son Jeff Taylor; sisters-in-law Betty and Nancy, and brothers-in-law Richard and David, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Beverly, brothers W.S. and John, sisters Grace, Erma and Mary, sister-in-law Harriet, and his parents W.S. and Julia.
Dan and Beverly returned home to their beloved Dallas after their retirement from the ministry and found their church home at Park Cities Baptist Church. The warmth, fellowship and faith of the people and worship leaders, and the music and ministries at the church fed their faith and made them feel at home in their last years.
A celebration of life service for Pastor Dan is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Ellis Chapel of Park Cities Baptist Church followed by a reception.
The family requests donations be made to Park Cities Baptist Church in memory of Dan.
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