Remembering Ira “Rusty” Taylor
--IRA WROTE THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO HIS PASSING--
Ira B (Rusty) Taylor passed away on May 25, 2026, in Olathe, Kansas, at the age of 66. He is survived by his wife Brenda, his sister Melissa Standridge (Richard), his mother and stepfather Martha Taylor and Herbert Friedson, his stepsister Nancy Tanquary (Kevin), his stepbrother David Dodgion (Natalie) as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and stepmother Richard and Jean Taylor and his sister Beth Diamond. He also leaves behind “Mabel”—who he referred to as his little Christmas Card. She may have been his last pet but definitely was not the least cherished.
Ira was born March 29, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1982 with a B.S. in business and major in accounting. He started his accounting career and obtained his license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Dallas, Texas, where he lived for 5 years. Ira and his best friend from college enjoyed their time in Dallas, but in 1987 he returned to Kansas City to be closer to other friends and family.
Between 1987 and 2000, he held a number of positions in the accounting industry and did a stint as a floor supervisor at a local casino. On January 1, 2000, he started his own CPA practice where he thrived until he retired at the end of 2023. He was proud of building his practice from the ground up and was lucky enough to do something he enjoyed as a career. Ira wanted to be remembered as a good husband, brother, son, uncle and friend to those who knew him.
He loved reading, dogs, and playing cards and games. It wasn’t until he retired that he started to watch all the “binge” shows like The Sopranos and The Wire, which he enjoyed very much. He also loved music of all kinds and considered his taste in music eclectic: Old Jazz, Rock, 80s and 90s, Alternative, Hip-Hop, Reggae and Rap. It didn’t matter. He would put on his headphones while mowing the lawn or on the treadmill and belt out the lyrics. He wished he would’ve done more karaoke.
He thought himself to have an above-average sense of humor and loved to laugh and make people laugh. Unfortunately, he was a well-below average golfer. The irony was that while playing golf, he was still able to make people laugh. He loved the camaraderie and being outdoors with friends. He enjoyed such trips to Mesquite NV, Gulfport, MS, San Diego, CA and the Lake of the Ozarks.
Ira also had a charitable side. He was a “Big Brother” for 2 years and found that very rewarding. He also tried to financially support worthy causes as much as possible. Particularly those devoted to the care and safety of animals and children. There were also other groups that he was fond of donating to as well. And he made sure that there were provisions to carry on that support after his passing.
Ira hoped he would be missed greatly by all that knew him, and he considered himself blessed to know and meet the people he did, as he found something beautiful in each one of them.
Ira and his family would like to thank Molly and Betzy at KU Palliative and his primary care doctor Dr. Giangreco, also from KU. Their patience, compassion, and non-judgmental attitudes were so appreciated. They made sure he was comfortable and passed with dignity.
There will be an Open House on Monday, June 15, 2026, 1–3 PM at Konrad’s Kitchen and Taphouse, 302 SW Main St., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063. His eulogy will be read at 2:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice.
