Extracted from The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Ronald Gary Taunton

COLUMBUS, GA -- Funeral services for Ronald Gary Taunton, 55, of Columbus, will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Butler, GA with burial following in Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.

Gary passed away on Monday, February 8, 2010. He was born in Reynolds, GA and grew up in Butler, GA. He had worked for East Alabama Paving Company in Opelika, AL for twenty years as a grading superintendent and has resided in Columbus for the past twenty three years. Gary was loved by everyone he met. He and his wife were soul partners who will one day meet again.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Demsey Taunton and Leola Peacock Taunton; one brother, Charles Taunton; and one sister, Martha Jean Barkley.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Duke Taunton of Columbus; brothers, Cecil (Gail) Taunton of Reynolds, Hallie Taunton of Butler and Thurmon (Judy) Taunton of Gordo, AL; sisters, Brenda T. (Earl) Hobbs Ellerslie, GA, Linda T. (Dan) Carmen of St. Petersburg, FL; Wanda T. (Randy) Ussery of Savannah; a very loved father-in-law, Glynn B. Duke, Sr. of Butler; many nieces and nephews; and his most beloved Labrador, Kata.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at StJude.org.

Visitation will be on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Edwards - McLeighton Funeral Home of Butler is in charge of arrangements.