Robert Michael “Mike” Taylor, (56), went to be with our Lord on March 7, 2022 after a lengthy battle with chronic illness complicated by COVID infection. Mike’s life was dedicated to helping people. His first interest was in Law Enforcement and he joined the Odessa, Texas Police Explorers Post 55 and held the ranks of Sergeant and Captain. He also joined the American Red Cross as a First Aid and CPR instructor and eventually became the Director of the First Aid program at the Ector County, Texas American Red Cross office. After graduating from Odessa Permian High School in 1983, Mike began his college career at the Odessa Junior College where he not only was nominated for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship but became a Texas Certified Emergency Medical Technician and graduated from the Odessa College Police Academy with the 2nd highest GPA of his class. He then went to work for the Odessa Police Department as a Police Cadet and nine months after starting that position he was promoted to the rank of Police Officer. He served with distinction and was even awarded the Life Saving Bar for his attempts at saving the life of another person. After 3 years of service he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and Field Training Officer. After serving 4 years as an Officer, Mike left and went into medicine. He went back to school and obtained his Paramedic rating from both Texas and the National Registry of E.M.T.’s. Mike worked for a total of 20 years in law enforcement and 26 years as an EMT and Paramedic. He also put in 8 years as a District Manager of Asset Protection with Wal-Mart serving in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas.
Mike’s health began to decline beginning in 2006 when he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. Since the oral medication treatments failed to reverse the effects of the leukemia, Mike underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant in 2007 with his brother David as the donor. The transplant was a success and the leukemia was put into remission and remained there until his death. The transplant, however, did produce many, many terrible side effects that Mike bravely fought every single day of his life from 2 months after transplant to his death. Some of these side effects included Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which caused excruciating pain in all the bones of his body, Bronchiolitis Obliterans which is a terminal lung disorder, a stroke, a heart attack and many other diseases and disorders. Mike fought these issues with grace and humility, rarely asking for more than prayers as assistance.
Mike knew the Lord quite well and knew where he would go to upon his death and was at peace when he slipped from his earthly bonds to the gates of Heaven.
Mike is survived by his ex-wife Sue (Miller), 2 children: Alex Taylor of Syracuse, New York, Tim (Nicole) Taylor of Georgetown, Texas; 2 step children: Elisa (Gabe) Garcia of Garner, Iowa, Nic (Taylor) Nelson of Britt, Iowa and 4 grandchildren: Israel, Ivy, Liberty and Destiny Garcia; as well as a soon to be born granddaughter of Georgetown, Texas. Parents: Robert L. and Billie Jean Taylor of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; Sisters Mary(John) Hargreaves of Midland, Texas and Angela Landrum of Denver, Colorado and Brother David Taylor (Betsy) of Midland, Texas. He was preceded in death by grandparents H. Lee “Pop” and Margie Taylor of Midland, Texas and O.H. “Bill” and Louise Ridley of Odessa, Texas.
12/20/1965Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.
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Aaron Pisors
left a message on March 12, 2022:
