Col. (R) James R. Taylor, Sr., Florida Army National Guard, 71 of Lake City, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at the North Florida Regional Medical Center.  Mr. Taylor was born in Lake City, Florida to the late Benjamin Tillman and Dollie Mae Jordan Taylor.  He was a member of the Columbia High School graduating class of 1962, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in 1972 and was a graduate of the 137th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 1984.  Mr. Taylor retired as a Colonel from the Florida Army National Guard with 28 years of service and also from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with 26 years of service.  He held many positions with the Florida Army National Guard and served in conjunction with FDLE as the Operations Officer and State of Florida Chief of Drug Interdiction.  He also held many positions with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement serving as the Bureau Chief in Jacksonville and Tallahassee and as the Agent in Charge for the Florida City Mutual Aid Command Post for Hurricane Andrew and for other numerous natural disasters in the State of Florida.  He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lt. Col. (R) Paul B. Taylor, FHP and Chief Machinist Mate USN (R) Floyd "Bill" Taylor and two sisters, Edna Doris Stalvey and Frances Ash.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth P. "Betsy" Taylor, Lake City; three sons, Jim Taylor (Amber), Lake City, Jonathan Taylor, Lake City and John "Jay" Seykora, Palm Harbor, FL; two daughters, Shannon Bushey, San Jose, CA and Jamie Taylor (Michael), Lake City; one brother, Bennie Taylor (Joan), Live Oak; one sister, Esta Mae Bedenbaugh (Roy), Lake City; eight grandchildren, James R. "Trace" Taylor, III, Lindsey Langston, Dylan Taylor, Alexis Seykora, Christina J. Seykora, Christopher Diaz, Makenna Marie Grubb and Megan Malynn Grubb; and one great-granddaughter, Peyton Diaz.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Chapel of Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with Pastor Henry Ortiz officiating and the eulogy given by Mr. Vernon Douglas.  Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors rendered by the Florida Army National Guard.  A reception will follow the interment at Parkview Baptist Church, all food is welcome at the church.  Visitation with the family will be Friday evening at the funeral home from 6-8:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the BPOE #893 Christmas Fund at 259 NE Hernando Ave., Lake City, FL 32055.