Carroll William Taylor
Carroll William Taylor, son of Edward William Taylor and Wilma Beatrice Schafer Taylor, was born May 16, 1938, in Corning, Iowa. At the beginning of World War II, his father enlisted in the Navy and Carroll and his mother moved to Malcolm, Iowa and then to Grinnell, Iowa. ShirleyMae, his only sibling, was born in Grinnell. Carroll graduated from Grinnell High School in 1956. In sports he excelled in wrestling and football. Immediately after graduation, Carroll enlisted in the US Air Force, serving from 1956 to 1960. Following his honorable discharge, Carroll went back to Grinnell to work with his father as a mechanic at Taylor’s Garage.
In 1961, he met Mary Ellen Devereux. They were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grinnell on August 25, 1962. They moved to Knoxville, Iowa where Carroll was a dental lab technician in the VA hospital. In August of 1963, he became a student at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. He completed graduate and post graduate work there and was director of Rider Mens Hall.
During those years, Anne Eileen joined the family and the next year Brian Patrick. The family moved to Webster City, Iowa where Carroll was assistant high school principal. Next, he was high school principal at Northwest Hamilton Schools nearby. During those years Kathleen Megan began life as a Taylor. A move to Garner, Iowa was next where he was high school principal. Next up was Exira, Iowa where he was, again, a high school principal. During this time, Carroll completed classes at the University of Wyoming, Laramie and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
In August of 1988, Carroll became the high school principal at Mount Ayr Community Schools. Monica Roseanne, Joseph Liam, and MaiLynn Maureen completed his family during this time. Carroll retired in 2000, and he always said MaiLynn was his retirement bonus.
For 30 years he helped care for nearly one hundred foster children in the family home. Carroll enjoyed following his children’s school activities, and later his grandchildren’s activities. He was active in his church in all the communities he lived and was proud to be a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. Carroll was also active in the Democratic Party. He enjoyed camping, hunting, jazz, 50’s and 60’s music, and talking about his time in the Air Force. He was very proud of his military service. Carroll also really enjoyed competitive drag racing, taking Mary Ellen to Knoxville for one of their first dates. He ended up getting pulled over during the race and kicked out for “supposedly” burning alcohol (it was never proven). They continued to drive that two-toned, 1955 Pontiac Carroll named “the Green Machine” as their family car for many years after that.
Carroll passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, at Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his mother Wilma, father Edward, sister ShirleyMae, in-laws Leo and Charlotte Devereux, sisters-in-law Joan Devereux-Haning, Catherine and Susan Devereux, son-in-law Eric Johnson, and Marvin Boyer, his longtime friend.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Mary Ellen Devereux Taylor, his children Anne Taylor, Brian Taylor (Eric Johnson), Kathleen Taylor-Coulsen (Scott), Monica Walters, Joseph and MaiLynn Taylor, and grandchildren Gabrielle Hunke, Quinn and Ben Coulson, Liam, Landon, Adelynn and Theodore Walters, Joey’s son Jaxen James, and other extended family and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held 10 a.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mount Ayr with Father David Polich, Celebrant and Father Tomson Thomas, Concelebrant. Musicians were Betsy Keenan, Winston Hoegh, and Melissa Dawson. The Lector was Delwyn Showalter, and the Readings was by Monica Walters. Communion Gifts were presented by Kathleen Coulson and MaiLynn Taylor. Urnbearers were MaiLynn Taylor and Anne Taylor. A private burial will take place in the Caledonia Cemetery, south of Mount Ayr. A memorial fund has been established in his name to be decided. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
