Otis Boyd Taylor

Otis Taylor of Columbus, MS, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the age of 90.  He was born in Shuqualak, MS, on October 30, 1933 to Rosalie Johnson Taylor and Olen Baker Taylor.
He graduated from Shuqualak High School and joined the United States Air Force where he served in Germany as an instructor in Radio Electronics from 1954-1959.
Otis attended East Mississippi Junior College, and then went on to Mississippi State University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in accounting and business in 1961.
Following graduation, he set out to find a job, and said he landed his first position by accident.  His first stop at a local company did not work out, but while passing by American Bosch, and later United Technologies, he decided to stop in and try his luck there.  Apparently luck was on his side and he began working at American Bosch in 1961.  This was the beginning of a 22 year career where Otis climbed the corporate ladder in the company with roles of sales assistant, production planner, purchasing-buyer, supervisor of order services, manager of marketing services and manager of production control.  He retired as manager of Plant 1 in 1995.
He also worked as a consultant in business planning for Genesis' Press, Inc., Nationwide Insurance and Deposit Guaranty National Bank.
Otis was always learning new skills and responsibilities.  At one time, he said he knew nothing about computers.  It bothered him when his company got computers and he did not know how to operate them, so he took a computer course at MUW to learn how.  This led to him teaching computer classes at the "W" for five years.
One would think  full time retirement would be in the near future, but not for Otis.  He began working at East Mississippi Community College in 2002.  He was the Director of WorkForce Services at the Golden Triangle campus for 12 years, retiring when he was only 80 years old.
Even though Otis had a busy schedule, he still made time for extracurricular activities and giving back to his community.  He was the 1969 President of the East Columbus Lions Club, the Zone District Chairman of District 30 E of Lions International in 1970 and Deputy District Governor of Lions International in 1971.  He was a member of the YMCA where he participated in many activities.  He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce from 1973-1995, where he served on various committees.  Otis was President of the Columbus Country Club in 1980, and elected again in 1994.  He was also a member of the Columbus Rotary Club.  Otis was a member of Who's Who in the South and Southwest edition 1982-1983.  Last but not least, Otis was a member of The Old Geezers Fishing Club.
An avid outdoorsman, Otis enjoyed golf, deer hunting and farming.  Noxubee county was always home and he enjoyed spending much time there with his family at "the Lake" at Land O'Lakes in Brooksville.
Otis was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus for close to 50 years.  He was a member of Dr. Platt's Sunday School class and later enjoyed  being a part of Reau Berry's class.
Otis is preceded in death by his parents, Olen Baker Taylor and Rosalie Johnson Taylor Eaves, Ralph Taylor (brother), Joe Taylor (brother) and Opal Gill (sister).
Otis is survived by his wife, Jean Miller Taylor, daughter Robin Taylor Dalrymple (Doug), granddaughter Taylor Dalrymple, grandson James Douglas Dalrymple II (Jase)(Anna Claire), great grandson James Douglas Dalrymple III (Trey), Olin Baker Taylor (brother) and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with visitation prior from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Interment will follow at Brooksville Cemetery in Brookville, MS.
Pallbearers will be Robin Campassi, Taylor Clark, A. G. Mendoza, Jase Dalrymple, David Taylor, Lonnie Taylor, Mark Taylor and Chuck Younger.
Dr. Shawn Parker will be officiating the service.
Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 7580, Columbus, MS. 39705 or to Land O' Lakes, 128 Lodge Lane Road, Brooksville, MS. 39739.