John Deal Taylor, 81, of Zachary, La., died on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, in Houston, Texas, after a short illness. He was born on July 15, 1934, in Monticello, Ark., the only son of John Guice Taylor and Mary Willean Deal Taylor. On July 18, 1959, he married Nancy Marie Gunnell in Crossett, Ark. He attended Arkansas A&M (now University of Arkansas at Monticello), and served in the Arkansas National Guard, United States Army, and the United States Army Reserve. Over the years, “John Deal,” as he is known in south Arkansas, worked in human resources and industrial safety for Ashley Drew & Northern Railway in Crossett, Ark; Georgia Pacific Corporation in Crossett, Ark., Urania, La., New Waverly, Texas, and Port Hudson, La.; Payne & Keller Company in Baton Rouge; and Jacobs Engineering Group/JE Merit Constructors in Baton Rouge. He has lived in Zachary for the past 44 years where he was very active in civic and charitable causes, including the Zachary Sausage Festival, Foundation to Assist Zachary Education, Z-Fest, and the creation of the Zachary Community School System. At the time of his death he was serving as a BREC Commissioner and an organizing member of the Zachary Regional Veterans Park Association. An avid outdoorsman, he especially enjoyed deer hunting and was a member of the Beef Trail Hunting Club for over 60 years. He taught Sunday school for the First Baptist Church of Zachary Adult 8 class for the past 20 years, and participated in mission trips to Nicaragua, Thailand, and several other domestic locations. John had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the only One who conquered sin and death, and he leaves behind a legacy of love and service. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy; son, Andy Taylor, and his wife, Mona; daughter, Sandy Davis, and her husband, Danny. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Drew Davis; Taylor Davis Harris, and her husband Dustin; Clay Taylor; and Sam Taylor; great-grandson, Davis Michael Harris; a large number of nieces and nephews, and his Boston Terrier, Bully. A celebration of his life will be led by Rev. Stephen Byrd at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, at First Baptist Church of Zachary, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. A graveside service will be Sunday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m., at Shiloh United Methodist Church and Cemetery in Crocketts Bluff, Ark. Pallbearers for the Zachary service will be Billy Fisher, Greg McDougall, W.C. Shaw, Allen Willcutt, Frank Ragsdale, and Harry Breeden. Pallbearers for the Shiloh service will be Larry Gunnell, Doug Gunnell, Drew Davis, Dustin Harris, Clay Taylor, and Sam Taylor. Charlet Funeral Home in Zachary is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of John Taylor to the Zachary Regional Veterans Park at http://www.regionalveteranspark.org/donate-now/.

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