Dennis B. Taylor, 76, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away Oct. 15, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. 

Dennis was born on Dec. 17, 1948 in Junction City, KS and adopted at birth by Roy E. and Betty J. Taylor. He was raised in Kansas City, KS and attended Argentine High School where he developed his love of music. After graduation he went to Emporia State Teacher’s College (now named Emporia State University) majoring in music education. After two years he left college and enlisted in the Navy where he joined the Navy Drum and Bugle Corps and became the leader of the drum line. After showing specific skills on the Navy aptitude test, he was sent to the Naval Air Traffic Control School in Georgia, and later to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Dennis served as an Air Traffic Controller on the USS Oriskany and deployed to Viet Nam. After his discharge he went back to Emporia and received his Bachelor’s in Music Education. He was set to be a music teacher, but then the FAA called and offered better pay, so he became an Air Traffic Controller for 10 years in Salina, KS. until the controller’s strike in 1981. He went to Marymount College in Salina and got a degree in Accounting and Business Administration and started as a financial analyst for Philips Lighting.  Through several promotions and moves he became the General Manager of the Paris, TX. plant. He left Philips Lighting after a 17-year career.  In 2001 he moved with his family to Lee’s Summit, MO where he worked as the controller and business manager at Triumph Group in Grandview, MO. until he retired. Dennis was a life-long member of the musicians’ union and played in bands throughout his life. 

Dennis is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda Taylor of Lee’s Summit; his son Jeremy Taylor and wife Kristina of Stanford, KY;  his daughter Lori Taylor of Winchester, KY; his daughter Lisa Ferguson and husband Ted; his granddaughter Annika and grandson Avery of Cincinnati; his sister Mary Taylor-Smith and husband Chris of Erie, CO; and his half-siblings Don Kell of Kansas City, KS, Terry Hill of Arkansas City, KS, Tami Barnes, Olathe, KS, Wayne Jordan of Hudson, MA, is and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Betty Taylor, in-laws Moe and Mary Peterson, sister-in-law Carol Keltch, and his half-siblings Kiola Ryks, Cathy Jordan Cundiff, Ralph Jordan and Lee Jordan. 

A graveside service will be held on Monday Nov. 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS. 66112. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Wayside Waifs Animal Shelter, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO. 64137