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 </figure>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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;