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David Jeston Taylor, 79, passed away peacefully on Nov. 9, 2024 in Billings, Montana. He was born in Caraway, Arkansas, on Jan. 31, 1945, to parents Harrison and Fannie Taylor. He was the fifth of seven children.
He met Glenda Dalke on Mother’s Day 1964 when he was appointed as the new pastor of her church, The Church of God of Prophecy, in Powell, Wyoming. They started dating early in 1965 and got married June 5, 1965.
David and Glenda had their first son, Darwin, in 1967, and their second son, Dean, in 1971. The family lived in Powell, where David continued to pastor. They left Powell in 1979 to pastor The Church of God of Prophecy in Buffalo, Wyoming. They left Buffalo in 1981 to move back to Powell to help take care of Glenda’s dad, whose health was failing. After her dad passed, David was asked to pastor The Church of God of Prophecy in Casper, Wyoming, so the family moved to Casper in 1985, where they stayed until David retired in 2015. Because he pastored smaller churches, he also worked other jobs while he was pastoring. Some of these jobs included working for the irrigation district, driving delivery truck for Salt Creek Freightways, painting houses, driving construction equipment; he was a janitor for the middle school and he drove school buses. After he retired from pastoring in Casper, they moved to Billings to be with their family. He faithfully served as a pastor for over 51 years.
David brought fun and life into every room he entered. He was a light for God everywhere he went, and his true life mission was to serve God diligently. He spent his nights praying over his family and friends by name. He will be remembered for the jokes he played on others, his full-bellied laugh, tender heart and the beautiful legacy he has left behind for his family and many friends to carry on. One of the last sentiments he expressed was that the only thing more joyful than watching his great-granddaughters running around would be to be in heaven with Jesus. We rejoice that God heard his heart’s prayer, and that he is living with Jesus as he spent his life dreaming about, and his ministry leading others toward.
David is survived by his children, Darwin (Colleen) of Billings, Dean (Christina) of Billings; grandchildren Dereck (Christi), Jazzmin (Justin), Drake (Rebecca), Logan (Jenessa), Aspen (Keenan), Rylin (Raleigh), Jezania and Kaiden; great-grandchildren Joshua, Olivia, Kaiya, Harbor, Bayleigh, Enderlee, Brinsley, Braelynn, Laurin and Kyson; siblings Lorell, JD, Gerald and Leatha. He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenda; his parents, Harrison and Fannie Taylor; his brother, Everett; and his sister, Shelby.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Life Missions Work.
Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., Billings.
Condolences may be made at michelottisawyers.com.
