Obituaries
5
trees
planted in memory of William E. "Bill" Taylor
Obituary for William E. "Bill" Taylor
William E. “Bill” Taylor, 66, passed away peacefully, at his home, after a 5 year battle with cancer surrounded by family on Sunday, September 25, 2022. He was born, in Peoria, June 17, 1956 (Father’s Day) to Rollin E. and Jane P. (Wallbaum) Taylor. They preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen (Pearson) of 42 years, and three children, Jacqueline (Matthew) Reed of Urbandale, Iowa, Leia (Andrew) Bradley of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Nathaniel (Melanie) Taylor of Kearney, Missouri. He has seven grandchildren, William, Madilynne, Finley, and Ellison Reed, Adler and Audrey Bradley, and Julian Taylor. He is also survived by his sister Karen Burgan of Sugar Land, Texas.
Bill graduated from Peoria Central High School in 1974. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was hired by Caterpillar and enjoyed a rewarding career. He retired in 2016, with his last position as Strategy Manager and Chief of Staff for Resource Industries Global Procurement in Global Purchasing. He was also active in the American Society of Metals of which he was a past Chairman of the Illinois Chapter.
Bill enjoyed playing various sports and was an original member of the Scratch ‘N Sniff golf league, which he enjoyed through this last season.
Bill was involved in youth sports, to the benefit of all children, not just his own. He impacted countless children through his coaching and volunteering. He was on the board of the Peoria Girls Sports League, where he was the coordinator of the softball program and also helped with basketball and volleyball clinics. He helped with the Richwoods Youth Baseball program and helped improve the fields at Kellar grade school and at Richwoods High School, including getting the dugouts and concession stand built. He coached Richwoods Youth Football where he and his wife also helped with the concession stand. He and his wife also ran the Richwoods Stadium concession stand and the pork chop sales for the Richwoods softball team.
For 25 years, Bill volunteered for the IHSA March Madness held at the Peoria Civic Center. He served on the steering committee and was in charge of the March Madness Experience. He received the Above the Rim Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the IHSA.
Bill was an active and vital member of the community. Above all, Bill’s main focus has always been his family and he will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at the Wright and Salmon Mortuary. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with Father Greg Jozefiak officiating. Additional visitation will be one hour prior to mass. Burial will be conducted at a later date.
Memorials may be made to: Illinois Cancer Care Foundation 8940 N. Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615-7822, or St Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 6001 N. University Street, Peoria, IL, 61614.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
27
Sep
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N North St
Peoria, IL 61604
Visitation
Wednesday
28
Sep
9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6001 N University St
Peoria, IL 61614
Funeral Mass
Wednesday
28
Sep
10:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6001 N University St
Peoria, IL 61614
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