Harold Don Taylor

Harold Don Taylor passed away on December 21, 2025. It was appropriately a Sunday morning when he went to meet his Lord and Savior. He was 91 years old. Services will be at Whitt Funeral Hone on Monday, December 29 at 10:00 am.  Visitation is scheduled Sunday, December 28 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.  

Before his passing, Harold Don wrote down his most joyous and important achievements. First meeting my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Second, meeting and marrying Zelpha McAlister. Third, watching Zelpha walk down the aisle to the arms of a preacher to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Fourth, my three beautiful children and five grandchildren. Fifth, my dedication to be a lay preacher of the Church of Christ for over twenty years. Sixth, my ability to build and construct whatever I set my mind to. 

Harold was born November 30, 1934 to Joe Oliver Taylor and Maggie Oma Sanner Taylor on a farm eleven miles east of Comanche, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three children. 

Harold started his education at Parks Public School and attended Comanche Public School from 3rd through 12th grade. He graduated from Comanche High School in 1953. He met Zelpha McAlister in high school, and they were married on July 2, 1955. 

Harold received an Associate’s Degree in Metallurgy from Oklahoma City University in 1956. For the next several years he worked as a welder on pipelines, refineries, and compressor stations in Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. 

After being drafted into the U.S. Army and honorably discharged in 1958, he returned to Comanche where he worked for Paul’s Manufacturing and Haliburton for twelve years. During this time, he also attended night classes. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1973, with teaching certificates in metallurgy, general industrial arts, metal and wood technologies, democracies, Oklahoma history, sociology, anthropology, and trade and industrial education. 

He taught metal fabrication (welding) at the Caddo-Kiowa Vocational Technology Center for 23 years. Harold continued to further his education in night school and with TV talkback sessions and received his Master’s in the Science of Education from Oklahoma State University in 1980. 

While advancing his education, Harold worked full-time jobs and did part-time business. This often meant working 40-60 hour weeks. He did all this to support his family. He loved taking them on family vacations to lakes in eastern Oklahoma and to Colorado. 

After retirement, Harold and Zelpha returned to Comanche. He enjoyed building buildings of all kinds, including his home, shop, and building his own tools and machinery. He also enjoyed caring for cattle, rebuilding antique cars, and going to car shows and swap meets. He and Zelpha were active members of the Duncan Antique Car Club.

Harold became a Christian at 15 years old when he was baptized in a stock pond. He remained faithful to Jesus Christs’ commandments until death. He was a lay minister at Lugert in western Oklahoma for 20 years and in Southern Oklahoma as a part-time lay minister for many more years. He was a proud witness and minister in the Church of Christ. 

Harold was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Zelpha McAlister Taylor; parents, Joe Oliver and Maggie Oma Sanner Taylor; brother, Howard Taylor; sister, Ora Jo Taylor Williams.  He is survived by his children: Mark Taylor and his wife Vickie, Donna Taylor, Karen Taylor McCullough, and his grandchildren: Morgan McCullough-Landolina and her husband Justin Landolina, Steven Taylor, Sydney McCullough, Scott Taylor, Andie McCullough; and his son-in law, Tom McCullough.  He also leaves behind Joan Stirlen, a dear individual who was like a daughter and who opened her heart and home to him, as well as many other relatives and friends. 

Of his wife and children Harold wrote: Mark, born October 8, 1959, the best shop helper I ever had, and showed a hardworking dedication to education. He also received a master’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and taught for 29 years. Donna Zel Taylor, born January 3, 1962, a sweet deep-thinking lovely daughter who received double-major bachelor’s degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In her adult years, she came to assist in my shop working on antique cars. She worked for the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 30 years. Karen Sue Taylor McCullough, born July 19, 1963, a sweet loving determined daughter, who is deeply sensitive, and a lover of animals. She also received a master’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and taught for 6 years and was a school counselor for 29 years. He wrote that “These and Zelpha are the pride of my life and why I lived and praised God.” 

Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.