Richard Oliver Taylor of McKey Hill, OK, passed away on March 9, 2024, in Sallisaw, OK, after reaching the age of 89 years and 1 day.  He was born on March 8, 1935, to Clifton Breckenridge Taylor and Auda Euphema Mattox Taylor.  The family farmed and raised cattle for 19 years on land on the Illinois River. The land was taken when the Army Corp of Engineers built Tenkiller Lake, which was formed when the Illinois River was dammed. The family then moved to McKey Hill and continued raising cattle and horses. Richard loved horses and began rodeoing when he was young.  He was known as a “cowboy’s cowboy.”  In rodeos, he competed in bareback bronc riding, team roping, and steer wrestling.  He was the Tennessee State Champion Bareback Rider in 1960.  

Richard graduated from Sallisaw High School in 1953. He served in the Army in 1958 until he received a Medical Discharge due to an ankle injury. Richard then went to work for the Southwestern Wood Preserving Company in Sallisaw, later owned by Crown Zellerbach, and was there for 35 years until it closed in 1984. After that, he worked on various ranches in Sequoyah County until his retirement.  

Richard lived on his family’s Cherokee allotment land on McKey Hill until January 24, 2024, when he moved into the Vian Nursing and Rehab Center in Vian, OK.  He raised cattle and horses until a few years ago, riding his horse 10 miles a day, weather permitting.

Richard is survived by son, Clifford Taylor and wife Kim of McKey; son, Jim Choate of Dwight Mission, and daughter Robin Taylor Morris and husband Alan of Sallisaw; a brother, Clifton Taylor of McKey, a sister, Euphema Taylor Thoe of Humble, Texas, a sister, Linda Maxwell of McKey; 3 grandsons, Matthew Taylor and Summer of Muskogee; Dustin Morris and Sarah of McAlester; Richard Morris of Sallisaw; 5 granddaughters, Jymebeth Davis and Joel of Mulberry, Arkansas, Tera Long of Sallisaw, Casi Morris of Bixby, Kelsey Waller and Jared of Tulsa, and Kelli Thames and Landon of Birmingham, Alabama; 7 great-grandsons and 6 great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifton Breckenridge Taylor and Auda Euphema Mattox Taylor; a sister, Wynona Taylor Yackubosky; a sister, Joan Faye Harper; a brother, John Famous Taylor; and an infant brother, Quannah Ray Taylor.  

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forever Memories Funeral Services.

Graveside Services will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Buffington Cemetery, with Ted Stamps officiating.

Pallbearers are Matthew Taylor, Dustin Morris, Alan Morris, J.P. Wickett, Connor Davis, and Ethan Morris.  Honorary Pallbearers are Rex Brooks, Richard Morris, Craig Edgmon, and Mackie Brooks.

We want to send a special thank you to Vian Nursing and Rehab for all the care and kindness they gave our Dad.

The family has entrusted the funeral arrangements to Forever Memories Funeral Services, INC, Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

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