Gordon E Taylor

Gordon E Taylor
Date Died: July 30, 2012

Denton ~ Gordon E Taylor, 87, an independent oil and gas operator, died Monday, July 31,2012 in Denton.

Funeral is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 2nd, at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport with burial in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hawkins Funeral Home.

Bill Knight, Joey Vick, Gene Fluker, and David Taylor Knight will officiate. Pallbearers include David Knight, Taylor Hays, Ryan Hays, Caleb Hays, Robert Myers, and Jacob Piatt. Honorary pallbearers are B.D. Workman, Tommy Mann, James Isom, Mike Scroggins, Jerel Flippin, Larry Isom, and Wise County Veterans Group.

He is survived by his wife to whom he married on December 20, 1949, June Ellen Hurst Taylor of Bridgeport; daughters, Jo Ellen Knight and husband Bill of Denton and Julia Elaine Hays and husband Tracy of Amarillo; four grandsons, David Taylor Knight and wife Bridget, Taylor Jacob Hays, Ryan James Hays, Caleb David Hays; three granddaughters, Katherine Knight Myers and husband Robert, Joanna Elizabeth Piatt and husband Jacob, Rachel Elaine Amezquita and husband Joshua; great grandchildren, Kynslee Grace Knight and Dylan Jackson Myers. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Mae Bijak in July 1979.

Most of his career was in the oil and gas industry in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana; and farming and ranching in Live Oak County, South Texas. He was active in the political arena at local, state and national levels in the Republican Party from 1960 until his death.

He became a follower of Jesus Christ in July 1937, in Whitsett, Texas and was ordained as a Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport on May 17, 1970. At the time of his death he attended Cuba Road Church in Bridgeport.

Mr. Taylor was born on a farm near Tilmon in Caldwell County, Texas on July 23, 1925. He graduated from High School in Three Rivers, Texas in 1941 and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I College in Kingsville in 1947, now Texas A&M in Kingsville.

He served in the U.S. Army from September 1943 to January 1946. He was a combat medic serving in ETO during World War II with 104th Infantry Division. Service awards were Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Certificate of Merit Citation, Combat Medic Badge and Meritorious Service Wreath. He was a member of American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Charter Member of the Wise County Veterans Group formed in January 2000 and he served as the First Commander of the Group in 2000. SCV member of A.S. Johnston Camp #983; Life Member of National SCV and Texas Division of SCV; National Rifle Association, Texas State Rifle Association, and Gun Owners of America.

Mr. Taylor was employed in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana from 1947 to 1952 by Magnolia Petroleum Co.; operated the family farm and ranch near Whitsett, Texas from 1952 to 1955 and did some oil and gas consulting work in South Texas during this time; employed by Trio Drilling Company and Miles Production Company from 1955 to 1957 in Bridgeport; George Mitchell & Associates (later Mitchell Energy Corp.) from 1957 to 1959 in Bridgeport and 1959 to 1967 in Houston and 1967 to 1976 in Bridgeport. When Mr. Taylor resigned from MEC in July 1976, he was Vice-President and General Manager of North Texas Division and President of MND Drilling Company. He was a consultant to MEC and MND from July 1976 to January 1977. During this time he formed G.E.T. Service Company, Taylor Operating Company and Taylor & Associates. In 1978 he formed B-P Sales & Service Company and Taylor & Associates became Taylor Exploration Company. These companies were dissolved in 1987 and he operated gas and oil wells in North Texas and did some consulting work until January 1, 2001 as G.E. Taylor Operator/Consultant. He formed G.E. Taylor, Inc. as operator of various oil and gas properties, and G.E. Taylor Operator/Consultant, LTD. as W.I. and R.I. owner.

He was a member of TIPRO, North Texas Oil & Gas Association, Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME & API. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and in National Society of Professional Engineers. He served as director of First National Bank of Bridgeport from 1980 to 1983.

He was a member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce from 1967 until his death and served as president in 1971 to 1972 and was outstanding citizen of 1974. He was instrumental in forming the Bridgeport Industrial Foundation. He was supportive of Various Charities and Civic Organizations in Wise County and Area activities with his time and finances.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cuba Road Church in Bridgeport (940-683-4368), Wise County Veterans Group (Ray Nellis 940-427-4481), and A.S. Johnston Camp #983 (Ray Florence 940-683-4640)

Hawkins Funeral Home, Bridgeport, Texas, 940-683-2211

---

 Service Information