John Benjamin Taylor III

John Benjamin Taylor III a former Willcox resident passed away in Tucson Friday morning, May 2, 2025, at the age of 92. John was the third of four children born to John Benjamin Taylor Jr and Catherine Delores Taylor and had one brother, Joseph and two sisters, Virginia & Maurine. John attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School and Bisbee High School where he graduated in 1952. In August 1952, John joined the Air Force and served at Thule AFB in Greenland until being honorably discharged in August 1956. After leaving the USAF, John worked for Phelps Dodge (now Freeport-McMoRan) in several capacities … ultimately driving a copper ore truck in the Lavender Pit. In August 1957, John married Minnie Grace Stoner and had two sons, John Wayne Taylor in May 1958 and Bruce Alan Taylor in October 1959. They divorced in February 1965 and John married Peggy Darlene Ellis in July 1966 and he and Peggy raised his sons. In 1975, John and his family moved to Morenci, Arizona as he continued working for Phelps Dodge as a ball mill operator until his retirement in 1986 whereupon they moved to Peggy’s hometown of Willcox. John served the Willcox community in several positions … most notably as a bus driver for Catholic Community Services and as a jailer for Cochise County Sheriff’s Department. John was a member of the American Legion and serviced as Color Guard Commander and Post Commander in Bisbee and was a member of the American Legion in Pearce, Arizona at his death. John was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Willcox. John had many friends and family in Willcox and was a fixture around town … at the Safeway, the Texaco station, the Burger King and the KOA Restaurant. Due to a fall in May 2021, John moved to an assisted living facility in Tucson near his son, Bruce where he lived out his remain years. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Virginia, wife Peggy, brother Joseph and son John. He is survived by his sister Maurine in Ohio and his son Bruce in Tucson. Military Graveside Service will be held 10:00 am on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Cochise Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Willcox Elks Lodge.

John Benjamin Taylor III

March 29, 1933 - May 2, 2025