James Taylor, 82, of Rock Island, IL, went home to be with his heavenly father on Saturday, February 7, 2015, surrounded by his family at home.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Progressive Baptist Church, 1302 E. 12th St., Davenport, IA. Visitation will be held from 5 PM - 7 PM on Friday, February 13, 2015 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island, IL, there will also be visitation one half hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Pine Hill Cemetery, Davenport, IA. Memorials may be made to the family.

James was born November 12, 1932, in Homer, LA, to Clarence Sr. and Annie T. Taylor. He married Gracie Scott on December 26, 1952 in Homer, LA. She preceded him in death one week before their 58th wedding anniversary in 2006. After working construction all over in the South, they decided to make the move North to Rock Island, IL. Shortly after arriving here he went to work at International Harvester Farmal Works. When the shop went out on strike and a second baby on the way he went to Laborer Local #309 in Rock Island, and went out on a one day job for Miller Brothers Construction that lasted for 21 years. He worked both construction and in the shop until 1984 when I.H. relocated its plant out of the area. James continued to work as a laborer out of L.L. 309 until retiring after 50 years of work in 1992. He called himself a jack of all trades and a master of none.

As a Christian he had a firm foot in the church. He became a member of Third Baptist Church, Davenport. In 1966 he became a member of Progressive Baptist Church, Davenport. He joined the user board and worked as hard in the Church as he did on the job. He said I'd rather be a door keeper in the House of my God than dwell in the tent of wickedness. James retired from the usher minister in 2000, but could always be called on to fill in.

He said idiol hands were the work of the devil, so he was never idiol. James enjoyed his children and grandchildren, and liked to garden, work on cars and around the house. He loved to travel and see new places and new things. He told us if you're not going to do the job well don't do it at all.

James is survived by his children, Lynzetta Taylor, Rock Island, Brenda (Michael) Taylor-McGeorge, Rock Island, James (Tina Baltimore) Taylor Sr., Columbus, OH, Bobbykines F. Taylor Sr, Aurora, CO; and Yvonne E. Jackson, Davenport; grandchildren, Lataz S. Taylor, Natashia Mathis, Matthew Harris, Gracie J. Taylor, Cedrick Johnson, Brytney L. Taylor, Bobbykines F. Taylor Jr., Jameis T. Gray-Taylor, James T. Taylor Jr., Nashicka L. Taylor, Marquayvion L. Hughes, and Jai-essence L. Abbey; great-grandchildren, Arayah Johnson, Clowie Love, Cayden Love, Matthew Harris Jr., and Kennedy Wigley; siblings, Gloria Anderson, Orlando, FL, Dr. Mertis-Jean McCarter, Winston-Salem, NC, and Willie (Geraldine) L. Taylor, Moline; and his special friend Lenora Harris, Davenport. James also leaves behind a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and all those that he touched at work and church. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gracie Scott-Taylor; granddaughter, Anastasia B. Taylor; brothers, Bobby Joe Taylor and Clarence Taylor Jr.; and brother-in-law, Sylvester Anderson.