Rodney Lee Taylor, 77, of Colby, died Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at Citizens Medical Center in Colby Kansas due to an accident. He was born January 22, 1943, in Goodland Kansas, to Forrest and Dorothy (Scherff) Taylor. He grew up on a farm with his 3 sisters Cheryl, Regina, and Candace, and one brother, Barry.
Though life was not easy in the 40s and 50s, he rarely had anything bad to say about his childhood. Rod loved all music, loved to dance, was very outgoing in sporting activities and working on the farm. He graduated from Norton High School in 1961. He went on to attended Dodge City Community College on a football scholarship, as the quarterback, then later transferred to Panhandle State again on a football scholarship. While at Panhandle State, Rod met his wife, Judith Sutton. After graduating college with a Bachelors in Physical Education and Business, Rod followed in his father’s footsteps taking additional training to become a highway patrolman. Rod and Judy eventually had a daughter Regina in 1978 and son Jarrod a year later. Rod and his family moved to Colby in 1981 where he has resided since.
He worked with the highway patrol as a Master Trooper, educator and drug handler with his dog Trooper. The law enforcement duo seized millions of dollars in illegal drugs and drug money over the years and a story was published in a state and law enforcement magazine. Trooper and Rod retired together in 1997. Retirement did not suit Rod and continued his work in law enforcement as a deputy with the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office. He eventually was elected sheriff of Thomas County for 2 terms before retiring again in 2016. Through his years, he enjoyed tae kwon do earning a black belt status and placing nationally in tournaments, hunting, fishing, worked on the local school board and president of the school board, giving presentations to schools and community organizations, participating in fund raisers and instrumental in keeping ADAC open.
Rod’s greatest achievement was his family. Local lakes were
frequented for camping trips typically including fishing, hiking and
enjoying nature. As his children became older, Rod and Judy stayed busy
running around to sporting events. Rod was a very caring man to family,
honorable and always did what was right regardless of what others may
have thought or pressure him to do. He was respectful to everyone, even
those he just met, friendly to all and would go out of his way to help
out a stranger in need. He did have his ornery side as there are various
stories of he and his law enforcement buddies always playing pranks on
each other over the years, especially his best friend Scottie Legeer who
was a fellow highway patrolman.
Rodney was preceded in death by his parents; son Jarrod “Tank” Shane
Taylor; brother Barry Taylor and brother-in-law Steve Sutton.
He is survived by his wife, Judith, of Colby; daughter Regina (Brett)
Suter and daughter Aurora, of Colby; sisters, Regina Rydquist, of Colby,
Cheryl Cooper, of Denver and Candace (Alan) Baird, of Jefferson City,
MO; brothers-in-law, Bill (Gayla) Sutton, of Topeka, KS, Bob Sutton, of
Canada and Jim (Judy Lee) Sutton, of Colby; sister-in-law Karen Sutton,
of Las Vegas, NV and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 at Baalmann
Mortuary, Colby. Due to COVID precautions, masks are required.
A private family graveside service will take place at the Goodland
Cemetery. After COVID is improving, Rodney’s family will be planning on
a Celebration of Life event in honor of him. Memorials are suggested to
the Rodney Lee Taylor Memorial Fund, to be designated towards community
improvements, and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391,
Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit
www.baalmannmortuary.com