M. A. Taylor

M. A. Taylor, Jr. October 30, 1927 - February 5, 2013 M. A. Taylor, Jr., of Waco passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at Providence Hospital. Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 7, at First United Methodist Church of Waco with the Rev. Stephen Ramsdell and Rev. Wayne Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 6, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. M.A. was born October 30, 1927, in Hewitt, Texas, to Mertz Anderson and Mathilde Emilia Tillie Taylor. He was educated in the Hewitt and Lorena public schools and was a graduate of Texas A&M, Class of '48. In 1950, he joined Central Freight Lines where he worked for 32 years, lastly as Vice President of Corporate Affairs. He was a past President of the East Texas Chamber of Commerce the only Wacoan to hold this office and a past Vice President of the Texas State Chamber of Commerce. He held offices locally, regionally and statewide in the Texas Association of Business & Chambers of Commerce. He was a past Chair of the Motor Carrier Panel of the Texas Transportation Institute of Texas A&M. He was a Group Vice Chairman of the Engineering Task Force of the Target 2000 Committee of Texas A&M and worked with the Transportation Institute of Texas A&M for over thirty years. He was a Rotarian, and past President of the Waco Civic Theater, past President of the McLennan County A&M Club, past President of the Red Cross Gallon Club and a seven gallon blood donor. He was a past Vice Chair of the Heart of Texas Chapter, American Red Cross, a member and Vice Chair of the Providence Hospital Advisory Board and a Trustee of the Providence Healthcare Network. He served as a member of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum Advisory Committee. M.A. was a member of Waco Lodge 92 and Tranquility Lodge 2000. He was the Degree Master of the 31st Degree of Scottish Rite, where he was coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason in 1976. He was a member of Karem Shrine Temple, its Director Staff and was its Potentate in 1971. He formed the Karem Cabiri and was a past President. He was a past Director of Waco Court 115, Royal Order of Jesters. He was elected in 1984 to the Texas House of Representatives the second Republican ever elected in McLennan County. He served four terms and 15 special sessions. After the Legislature, he was elected to the State Republican Executive Committee. He was elected County Chairman of the Republican Party of McLennan County in 1994, serving 14 years. He was a Presidential Elector for Bob Dole in 1996. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco, where he served as a greeter and Scripture reader. He had served as a Baptist deacon and for 17 years taught a Sunday school class of three year-olds. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Virginia; one son, Mark Kevin Taylor; two daughters, Marilynn Pagano and Kathy Leighton; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and his cousin, Carleen Bright. Pallbearers are Hon. Bill Vannatta, Joe B. Hinton, Jay Baker, Arthur Kackley, Norman Nossaman and Tom C. Burke. Honorary pallbearers are Republican Office Holders, past Potentates of Karem Shrine Temple, Kent Keahey, Allan Horton and Terry Stevens. The family would like to thank Drs. Webster Lowder, Larry Davis, Farley Verner, and Eric Walker, and Providence nurses, 3 South. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Waco, Shriners Hospitals or charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey