Gregory Scott Taylor

Gregory Scott Taylor, 42, of Joplin, Missouri, died at 7:15 a.m., on Sunday, November 28, 2010, in St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, after a long illness. Scott was born on November 13, 1968, to Gregory Richard Taylor and Marilyn Kay (Werner) Taylor in Lebanon, Missouri, where he spent his first eight years. His father died in 1974 and his mother remarried in 1976, to Ronald L. Hillme. The family lived in Chanute, Kansas, during much of his childhood, moving to Springfield, Missouri, in 1984. Scott graduated from Kickapoo High School with the class of 1987. He was employed several years as a sous chef at Hickory Hills Country Club in Springfield, and later worked at restaurants in Joplin and Carthage, Missouri. After making a career change, he was employed by Dalton-Killinger Construction Company for a number of years in the Joplin, Missouri, area.

Scott was a unique individual with a good heart. He particularly loved interacting with family and friends. He enjoyed nature, and especially liked spending time at the family's cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks. He was fun-loving with his nieces and nephews, and unselfishly gave of both his culinary and construction-related talents. Scott is and will remain in all of our hearts for the rest of our lives. He is survived by his parents, Marilyn and Ron Hillme, two brothers, Shane Taylor, and Patrick Hillme and his wife Adriene, one sister, Renee' Carroll and her husband Ben, and his nieces and nephews, Eleanor Taylor, Louis Taylor, Charlie Taylor, Hannah Carroll, Lucy Carroll, Bennett Carroll, and Jack Hillme, all of Springfield, Missouri. Also surviving are paternal grandparents Ivan and Dorothy Shisler of Springfield. Scott will be especially missed and remembered by his long-time girlfriend, Kathy "Kat" Kennedy and her family in Joplin and Webb City, Missouri. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial visitation to celebrate Scott's life is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2010, at the Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street, in Springfield. The family requests no flowers or memorial contributions. The body has been cremated, and his ashes will be scattered at a later date as he requested.

Online condolences can be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.