Donavan "Big D" Taylor

Donavan “Big D” John Leon Taylor, age 38, of Lamar, MO passed unexpectedly at his home, Tuesday, February 18, 2014. “Big D” was born September 27, 1975 to Jessie Leon Taylor and Deborah Ruth (Shores) Taylor-Blanchard at Kinsley, KS.  He graduated Joplin High School in 1994 and went to Crowder College Truck Driving School.  He had worked for 10 years at O’Sullivan Industries as a forklift driver, was a truck driver for Werner Enterprise Trucking, and most recently was a cook at Tractors BBQ and Grill in Lamar. “Big D” loved NASCAR racing, WWE Wrestling, and the Kansas City Chiefs Football cooking, hunting and fishing. He was a member of Lamar First Baptist Church. “Big D” is survived by his father, Jessie Taylor of Lamar, and his step-mother Becky Taylor of Springfield, MO; his mother and step-father, Deborah and Dan Blanchard of Springfield, MO, his fiancé, Irma Neely of Lamar; two sisters and their husbands Mary and Donny Osburn, of Springfield, MO and Kathryn and Patrick Hall of Golden City, MO; a nephew Zack and two nieces, Dallas, and Terrinity. He loved children and was the grandfather to 16 of Irma’s grandchildren and Godfather to three of them; Elisa, Dannon, and Temperance. “Big D” was preceded in death by his grandparents and a sister, Casandra Lynn Watts in 1999. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 pm Friday, February 21, 2014 at Sheldon Baptist Church with Rev. Jarod Lamb officiating.