Gary "Charlie" Taylor Obituary (1939 - 2021)

Gary "Charlie" Taylor, 81, of Pana passed away Monday, March 15, 2021 at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield. He was born June 25, 1939 in Pana, son of the late Noah Albert & Nellie D. (Hunter) Taylor. Charlie married Donna "Sue" Handy on August 26, 1963 in Calumet City, IL and she survives in Pana. Charlie was a graduate of Pana High School and then went on to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves. He managed the family business, Pana Gas Co., before going to work for Caterpillar, where he retired. He was most recently working for Bob Ridings in Pana. Charlie always kept busy and enjoyed helping his family & neighbors. He enjoyed mowing was very passionate about cars. He enjoyed keeping his cars washed and loved going to car shows, car races & flea markets. He was kind and caring; his number one love was his family and spending time with his grandchildren & great grandchildren. Along with his wife, Charlie is survived by his children: Shelly (Chris) Fikan, Rosamond, IL & Chad Taylor, Pana, IL; grandchildren: Wade Fikan (Kaylen Tatman), Alyvia Fikan (Mike Jones), Dylan Taylor (Farrah Ginger), Carson Taylor, Luke Taylor (Kristi Peters); great grandchildren: Adalee & Brooks Jones; Dawson Taylor, Corbyn Taylor & Grayson Taylor; brothers: Dick Taylor, Pana, IL; Bob (Faye) Taylor, Monterey, TN; Neil (Bette) Taylor, Ruskin, FL; many special nephews & nieces including, Mark (Marty) Handy, Suzi "Queenie" (Tim) Castle & Chris (Butch) Kallis; nephew-in-law, Carl Campo and sister-in-law, Pauline Taylor, Pana, IL. He was also preceded in death by his son, Corey Taylor; brother, Lloyd Taylor; sister-in-law, Dusty Taylor, niece, Dena Campo & nephew, Norman Taylor. Funeral services for Charlie will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Stan Pratt officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Pana with military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until service time in the funeral home. Memorials in Charlie's honor may be made to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation (CJD), 3634 W. Market Street, Suite 110, Akron, OH 44333; Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, P.O. Box 533, Pana, IL 62557 and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home is who assisting the family.