Dillard Stanley Taylor passed peacefully into eternal life on October 30, 2025, leaving a rich legacy of faith and servanthood. He was born on February 21, 1944, in Oklahoma City, to Gertrude and Mendell Taylor. Dr. Taylor was the dean of Bethany Peniel College; Gertrude was founding faculty of the speech department. Dillard was their adored, only child, named after his maternal grandfather, Dillard Pendergraft.

At 18 months of age, the Taylor family moved to Kansas City where both Gertrude and Mendell were leading faculty in the new Nazarene Theological Seminary. Dillard's childhood prepared him well for life. He was precocious and learned early to be well-mannered and comfortable with both children and adults. Like his father, he was clever and inventive, with a wry sense of humor. Early on, he was steeped in the scriptures and began a lifelong, unwavering faith in God.

In 1962, Dillard graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City, MO, and enrolled in Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) the following fall. He majored in mathematics, bringing strong problem-solving skills and analytical thinking to his studies and career.

In his freshman year, Dillard was introduced to Sandi Dailey – thanks to the match-making efforts of her cousin Jack McElrath, and friend Marilyn Olson. They were married July 6, 1965, in an intimate home wedding, with Dillard's father Mendell officiating and a bevy of sisters-in-law attending the bride, all four of whom held Dillard in the highest regard to his dying day.

Dillard tackled life with relentless optimism. Out of college, he launched a lifetime career in business technology and sales. He liked work, not only because he enjoyed providing for his family, but also because he believed he was making a difference in the workplace and the world. He often held a part-time job in addition to his full-time work. His early resume included being a top-producing phenomenon in "Swipe" sales. Through several key career moves, he proved again and again that he was an idea man that could execute the idea.

Like many others in 1990, Dillard was caught in a recession without a job. Although the downturn was short, the recovery was slow. Dillard landed a new job with MidFirst Bank within a few months, but found himself surrounded by others who were suffering through meager job opportunities. Building on his life of faith and the lessons he was learning about job recovery and career change, Dillard started a small group at Bethany First Church called "Job Net." There, as an advisor and friend, he coached fellow job seekers to deepen their total dependence on God, at the same time they sharpened their hireability. A testimony to his generosity, he actively researched and connected workers with job openings while he was also in transition.

After a successful 30-year career of innovation with MidFirst Bank, Dillard retired at age 79 (and 'not a day too soon' according to Sandi and the children!)

If you were fortunate enough to be born into the Taylor family, you were automatically in Dillard's Pride and Joy Fan Club. If you were one of his three children, Dillard would be your biggest cheerleader – celebrating and bragging on your every accomplishment. He might have you out playing tennis, or be coaching you through your math homework, but there was never any debate over your ability to succeed at anything you set your mind to do. If you were one of the grands, it was Da's Fan Club and you were automatically amazing at birth.

Dillard was steadfast in family hardship. His unflagging faith always saw the other side of hard times. He prayed believing, and weathered the pain and recovery of cancer in the family – again and again.

Dillard and Sandi shared 60 years of devotion and friendship. In making his own end-of-life plans, his wry sense of humor advised that "when Sandi dies, she will need three caskets – one for herself and two more for all her things." Truth be told, Dillard was smitten on day one by Sandi's easy, friendly demeanor and her extraordinary sense of style.

In addition to Sandi, Dillard is also survived by his children – oldest daughter, Mindy Rickey and husband Brett, along with their three daughters, Jessica Townley and husband Colton, Kelsey Senecal and husband Anthony, and Hope and fiancé Matt DeYoung; his son, Kyle and wife Terri, along with their three children, Kyleigh, Mason, and Abigail; his youngest daughter, Amy Stewart and husband Paul, along with their children, Sophia Haggard and husband Titus, and Christopher; four great-grandchildren who also call him "Da", Adeline, Asher, and Ace Townley, and Rowan Senecal. He will be greatly missed by Miss Lacy, the pup.

Two scriptures that testify to his tenacious and persistent spirit:

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not powers, nor things present, nor things to come – Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:37-39

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. –Psalm 139:9

A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on November 19, 2025, at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, 6789 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed from this obituary page.