Roy L. “Taxi” Ayers

February 9, 2015

Roy L. “Taxi” Ayers 97, of Frankfort, Indiana, died at 2:20 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2015 at Wesley Manor Health and Retirement Center.  Born January 10, 1918 in Frankfort to the late Lloyd & Ruby (Reed) Ayers. His marriage for over 73 years was to Mary Teresa Grace on June 29, 1941 and she survives.  Taxi was a 1935 graduate of Frankfort High School. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served from 1944-1946 in the Pacific. He retired from the Frankfort Fire Department in 1968 after working from 1947-1968. He later worked with grain dealers Mutual Insurance Company in Indianapolis. Taxi was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Frankfort as well as the Knights of Columbus. Taxi was very active with the Walter T. Cohee American Legion Post in Frankfort, where he helped organize the Veterans Day program and participated with the funeral honor guard for many years. He was an avid baseball fan and was past Indiana State Director of the American Legion baseball program.

Visitation and Services

Visitation will be Thursday, February 12, 2015 from 4-7:30 p.m. at Goodwin Funeral Home with a Rosary beginning at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 13th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 600 St. Mary’s Ave., Frankfort. Burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Frankfort Community Public Library Literacy Program or American Legion Honor Guard.

Survived by:

4 Sons: Roy Lawrence “Larry” (Jackie) Ayers of Frankfort, Paul (Cheryl) Ayers of Carmel, James (Dorothy) Ayers of Idaho, Richard (Cyd) Ayers of Jacksonville, FL, 2 Daughters: Teresa Cronkhite of Frankfort, Margaret (Curtis) Lock of Jefferson, 1 Sister: Carol Stringer of Frankfort, 3 Brothers: Kenneth (Nancy) Ayers of Union City, Robert Ayers of Indianapolis, Donald (Rosemary) Ayers of Victoria, TX, 22 Grandchildren, 40 Great Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Preceded by:

a sister, Doris Ayers and 2 brothers, Paul and James Ayers.

Condolences

30 Condolences for “Roy L. “Taxi” Ayers”

  1. John & Grace Miller February 9, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    Ayers Family,,,,Taxi a great individual and will be missed by all…..

  2. Kevin and Carol Hamilton February 9, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    Marty, our condolences to you and your family. Hug the kids for me. Carol

  3. Rae Myers February 9, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    What a great man Taxi was. He and Mary were the best neighbors I have ever had. Hoping the happy memories you have will bring you comfort during this time. Truly a life well lived. God bless you all.
    Rae, Preston and Sally Myers

  4. Richard Rayles February 10, 2015 at 1:04 am

    Our prayers go out to the family after hearing of Taxi’s passing. He was a dear friend and admired by many. He was Mr Veteran and looked upon by many with admiration because of his tireless work with the Memorial Day Celebration. We will miss him.

  5. Connie Stevens King February 10, 2015 at 5:18 am

    Ayers family, So for your loss. My dad delivered your milk to your house when we were young. We would sometimes come to your house with dad. As a family everyone always felt at home. You all have good memories and a wonderful family. God bless all of you.

  6. Suilon Benjamin February 10, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Dear Mary & Family,
    My sympathy for your loss of such a Blessing not only to you all but all who were touched by Taxi… He was so appreciative of those of us who brought communion and such a gentle giant of an example of devotion to faith and family, especially his wife, and friends be they veterans, Knights or baseball kids…Blessed to have known him…
    Prayers… God Bless, Suilon & Terry

  7. Ron Coleman February 10, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Dear Family,
    We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Taxi. What a wonderful legacy he has left for his family. No matter what age God calls our loved one to come home to Him, it is never easy. Please know you are in our thoughts and our prayers. What a wonderful blessed assurance to know you will meet again. May God wrap His loving arms around each of you for strength and encouragement. God Bless. In His Love, Ron & Erilda – Foley AL

  8. The Laird’s February 10, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    We all will miss Taxi. He was such a gentle-man..
    Love & Prayers, Scott, Kathy & Mary

  9. Gerald A. White February 10, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    To Mary and the Ayers family: My deepest sympathies on “Taxi’s” passing. It was my honor and pleasure to work with “Taxi” as a member of the Indiana American Legion Headquarters staff when Roy was on the State American Legion Baseball Commission and State Baseball Chairman. We spent a lot of time together talking baseball, planning baseball, and working together at the baseball meetings and state baseball tournaments.
    “Taxi” always had the best interest of the young men who played Legion baseball in mind at all times and was highly respected by everyone in American Legion Baseball circles.

    ……”for when the one great scorer comes to mark against your name, it matters not if you won or lost, but how you played the game”……

  10. John Hayes February 10, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    Taxi was the American Legion State Baseball chairman when I got involved with the program in 1984. We became friends very quickly and I thought the world of him. He was a perfect gentleman and I know that all will miss him. A Taxi only comes by us once in a while and I am glad to say that I was able to know him. Rest in peace!!!
    John Hayes, Terre Haute, In.

  11. Glen and Ruth Lock February 11, 2015 at 10:48 am

    Taxi was a good man and will be missed by many. Prayers for all the family.

  12. Jerry and Sandy Roth February 11, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    So sorry to hear about Taxi, Our prayers are with the Ayers family!

  13. Katherine Hodge Mario February 11, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Paul, Larry, Jim and all: Deepest sympathy on your loss.
    May your good memories be a comfort to you all.
    Sincerely,
    Kathy

  14. Greg and Karen Wysong February 11, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    Please accept our sympathy on the death of your father. Taxi was a wonderful person. We always looked forward to seeing him. We have a great picture of him awarding Elizabeth with the American Legion award. He was a great veteran advocate and will be missed by those who were fortunate enough to know him.

  15. Sam & Sandy Hiland February 11, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    Our love and prayers are with you. may Gods grace and peace surround your family.

  16. Marcia Dickerson February 11, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Kind, loving, patriotic and faith-filled man. When I think of St. Mary’s, I envision Taxi and Mary sitting up front, side by side. I sure will miss him.

  17. Cheryl February 11, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Dear Larry, Paul, Jim, Teresa, Dick, and Marty,
    What a great pleasure to have shared your Dad all these years…sure will miss him!
    Love and prayers,
    Cheryl

  18. Ron McClughen February 12, 2015 at 9:17 am

    I just finished viewing the memorial, and it brought back great memories of the Ayers family. Taxi was a great guy and so happy he had such a long life. I will always remember the conversation he had with Paul and myself during the baseball game of the week that we were viewing in an establishment that we were not old enough to visit. A life lesson handled by an expert over 50 years ago. Rest in Peace Taxi.

  19. Barb Fausett February 12, 2015 at 11:35 am

    I did not know Taxi personally, but knew him when I saw him. My grandfather “Stormy” Reagan and my father “Honk” Walters spoke of Taxi often, always with respect and admiration. So I remember him as a valued community member, a stalwart supporter of veterans, and a wonderful man who loved his family and this city just from hearing my family speak of him. A kind and gentle soul gone from our midst. He leaves a legacy even to those, like myself, did not know him personally. God give you comfort and peace.

  20. Debbie Sears Walker February 12, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    To the Ayers family… What a great man Taxi was. He and my father, Omer Sears worked together on the Fire Department and my father highly respected and admired your father. He was his mentor when he first started at the fire station. He instilled values, moral’s and a wonderful friendship thru the years until my fathers passing. He then continued and extended his caring friendship to my mother and us kids even after my dad was gone.
    Please know that you are all in our hearts and prayers and know what a great man Taxi Ayers was not just to my family but to all the other families he touched along the way.
    May god bless you and comfort you.

  21. Bob and Dodi Helman February 12, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    We will be thinking of your family today and tomorrow. It is a blessing that you can be together as you think about and share memories of Taxi and his importance in your lives. What a legacy he leaves in each of you! That will live on forever and that will be your ongoing bond. Peace to you all, even though these days will be sad.

  22. Don and Nancy Hufford February 12, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Dear Larry and Jackie: We were very sorry to learn of Larry’s Dad’s passing you are in our prayers. We will contact you in the next few days just to check in. Hope you are all doing OK during these tough times. Love!! Don & Nancy

  23. Craig Mundell February 12, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    My condolences to all the Ayers family. A great man who touched many individuals, a real Frankfort icon.

  24. Jackie Willaman February 12, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Taxi and Mary were such an inspiration and example of love of God, nation and family. I cherish the memories of their beautiful, warm and welcoming smiles at St. Mary’s. Prayers with you all at this time.

  25. Doris Holmes February 12, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Ayers Family – Condolence to all of you. Taxi was a great gentleman, and will be remembered by many.

  26. Paul Greeno February 12, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    My prayers are with you Mary and the family. Taxi was always an inspiration to me. I always enjoyed seeing his smiling face before mass. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

  27. Cindy Orem February 13, 2015 at 8:24 am

    Thoughts and prayers to your family it’s never easy lose someone you love. Hold onto the memories.

  28. Jerri Newhouse Ridenour and Denny Ridenour February 13, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Teresa, Just got news down here in Florida of your dad’s passing. I know he will be missed by all. He led a long, eventful life. I’ll tell Mom and Dad to watch for him – Dad and Taxi can talk “old times”. My thoughts are with you and all of your family.

  29. Beverly (Howe) Strain February 16, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    I am so sorry to learn about your dad’s passing. Taxi was a great neighbor to my mom and dad, Bob & Peg Howe. He was a grand friend to my dad. My dad always thought the world of both of your folks. Please give Mary my best & a hug. My mom thought she was the greatest! — Bev

  30. Char Goodwin March 6, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I just saw that Taxi passed away. I’m so sorry for your loss. I remember him growing up. He was a really nice man. . He was a good friend of my parents, Charlie & Anita Miley.

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