Rodger Dee "Rod" Taylor

Rodger Dee "Rod" Taylor passed away on January 24, 2024. Rod was born on January 6, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, to Florence (Blauer) Taylor and Bert Taylor. He attended elementary and high school in Plainville, graduating in 1965. Rod was active in sports, student council, and other activities. He graduated in 1969 from the University of Kansas with degrees in mathematics and economics.

Rod married Patricia Berkley in August 1967. He attended graduate school at Wichita State University, receiving his Master of Business Administration degree in 1970. After graduation, he went to work for the accounting firm Arthur Young. He became a CPA in 1970 and worked in the Arthur Young offices in Wichita, Kansas, and New Orleans, La., until 1982.

Beginning in 1984, Rod started as a financial officer of Restaurant Management Company in Wichita and shortly thereafter became Chief Operating Officer of the company. In 1991, he became President and was responsible for 100+ Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s, and Grandy’s franchise restaurants.

In 1993, Rod and his family relocated to Casper, Wyoming, where he formed Taylor Bros and purchased several Pizza Huts from Restaurant Management Company. While in Casper, he was active in civic and community activities. He served as President of the Casper Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, President of the Casper Chamber of Commerce, and a Director of the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association. Patricia affectionately called Rod “Mr. Methodist” as he was active in the Methodist churches he attended. In 1998, Rod sold his Wyoming Pizza Huts and focused on private investments.

Sadly, on August 18, 1999, his wife Patricia was killed in an automobile accident. In 2001, he and his daughter Brooke moved to Wichita, where he focused on his private investments.

In 2000, Rod met Linda Boyle online and soon fell in love. They married in 2003, and she joined him in Wichita. Linda was the FACS teacher in Hill City, Kansas.

In December 2001, Rod joined Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor in their Wichita office. In 2006, they moved to Leawood. Rod retired from the Leawood office of Merrill Lynch in 2009.

Rod maintained a passion for the restaurant business, and in June 2011, he acquired his first Dairy Queen, located in Branson, Mo. He later acquired stores in Warrensburg, Mo., Olathe, Bonner Springs, and North Kansas City, Mo. Eventually, he sold the controlling interest in the DQ stores to Julie Boyle and continued as an owner, director, and advisor.

Rod has said he felt blessed to have grown up in Plainville in the 1950s and ’60s as “one of the Taylor twins.” He said, “We were loved, safe, and able to be kids.” His childhood memories of playing sports, being in the band, and working at the Conoco gas station with his dad, Uncle Taylor, and Bob were especially good times. “Working at the gas station taught me many things about people, work, and life.”

Rod is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Patricia.

He is survived by his wife Linda; children Michael and Brooke; older brother Bert Alan (Al) and twin brother Robert (Bob); stepsons Jeff and Brad; and stepgrandchildren Westin, Audrey, Lincoln, Colton, Brexton, Wyatt, and Emmy.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 8, from 6:00-8:00 pm at McGilley State Line Chapel, Kansas City, Mo. The funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Friday, February 9, in the Wesley Chapel at Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kansas. A celebration reception will be held immediately after the funeral service in the Foundry at the Church of the Resurrection.