Robert Burns Taylor age 86 of San Angelo, TX passed away peacefully at home on October 26, 2020. He was born March 12,1934 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, the third and youngest of Charles and Ruby Taylor. Rob was the 1952 valedictorian of his high school class, participated in tennis, baseball, basketball, and attended First Baptist Church regularly. He enjoyed a small-town idyllic upbringing with his loving family and many friends. He attended Oklahoma University on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1959 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was drafted to the U.S. Army and served 2 years with the 1st U.S. Missile Command, 1956-58 (Southern European Task Force) and the Army Reserves, from 1956-60 before he was honorably discharged. When he returned, he married, started his family, and obtained employment from Texas Employers Insurance where he worked for 15 years. He lived with his wife and children in Abilene, San Angelo, and the New Orleans area during this time. In 1974, Rob took a new job with Tennessee's Department of Labor, moved the family to Nashville where he worked for 18 years and later retired as Director of Tennessee's Occupational Safety and Health Association. He was a well-respected leader during his career and served on the Executive Committee as Chairman for the Annual Tennessee Safety Congress and Exposition for 15 consecutive years. He received a Presidential appointment by George Bush, Sr. to serve on the National Chemical Hazard Control Board (reporting to Congress). He was a member of the National Organization of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association, where he served from 1982-88. He was the Vice Chairman in 1986, and Chairman in 1987. Rob faithfully served in the church as a teacher and mentor in the Youth Ministry and participated in various Bible study groups. He also enjoyed playing golf, softball and basketball in church and community leagues. He was well known for his competitive spirit and love of all sports! In 1997, Rob married Patsy Albro and relocated to San Angelo, Texas where he worked and later retired from Angelo State University as their Risk Management Specialist. 
Rob was blessed and loved by family and friends from his many adventures. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruby and Charles Taylor and his brother, J.C. Taylor. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years Patsy Albro Taylor; his sister Marilyn Stone; his sister in law Kathryn Taylor; his daughter Michelle Taylor Pleasant (Randy Weeks); son John Charles Taylor (Hallie Turner Taylor); stepdaughter Teri Walter; grandson Taylor Bentley Pleasant; multiple nephews, close friends and family. He will be greatly missed and live in our hearts forever. Memorial services will be held at Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo, TX on Monday, Nov 2 at 2pm. To help ensure the safety of all, masks are requested to be worn. 
Special thanks to Dr. John Harvey, Kindred Hospice and Betty Pina for their attentive care and devotion in the last few months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to ASU Athletics, Kindred Hospice or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Service

Monday, November 02, 2020

2:00PM - 3:00PM

Harper Funeral Home
2606 Southland Boulevard 
San Angelo, TX 76904

Jesse Garcia Mata, 73, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven after a courageous 9 year battle with Cancer. Jesse was born to Life on June 1st, 1947 and Born to Eternity on October 29, 2020.

He was a lifelong resident of San Angelo, TX and of St Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Jesse’s path in life began to emerge at 8 years of age when he volunteered to clean the Church yard and serve as an altar boy. Jesse married Rosantina, the love of his life for 49 years, and shortly after had a son, Jesse Galvan Mata.

Jesse joined the funeral ministry to support families during difficult times by preparing and serving meals from the church kitchen. For many years, Jesse looked forward to volunteering at the annual Church festivals. As a member of “Living in the Light Ministry”, he ministered to the incarcerated throughout the state of Texas. After visiting the prisons, he concluded that he must reach out beyond the jail cells to make a difference, therefore he decided to join the “Angel Tree Ministry” and help children of incarcerated parents.

Jesse joined the Knights of Columbus, Council # 12798 on February 26, 2001 and on March 4th, 2006, he became a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. He was later called to be a Eucharistic Minister and would pray and take Communion to members who were homebound, hospitalized, or in a nursing home. While he ministered, he also volunteered at the Catholic Outreach for 10 years.

Jesse had the gift of getting people to laugh – friends and family will always remember him as someone who can bring joy or happiness to any situation.

Jesse is survived by wife of 49 years, Rosantina Galvan Mata, son Jesse Galvan Mata and wife, Angelique Mata, brother, Manuel Garcia Mata and wife, Alicia Mata, children, Marie Rivera and husband, Leopoldo Rivera, Roberto Vargas and wife, Karina Vargas and Marina Vargas. Grandchildren, Byanka Mata, Esteban Mata, Victoria Mata, Isabella Mata, Crystal Santellano, Karlo Hinojosa, Lorena Beltran, Kandace Ponce, Natalia Chavez, Antonio Beltran, and Felipe Vargas

He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Irene Sanchez, parents, Manuel Orona Mata and Frances Garcia Mata, sisters, Udelia “Lela” Torres, Romalda “Malle” Reyes, Manuela Garibay, brothers, Santiago “Jimmy” Gonzales Mata, Francisco “Frank” Fitchett Mata, child, Antonio “Tony” Vargas and granddaughter Liza Santellano

The family would like to thank Hospice of San Angelo, Dr. Cheruku, the Tulsa Cancer Center of America staff, the Knights of Columbus, Gary and Leny Davis, Gilbert Gomez, Godfather and friend – Robert Villescas and the many friends and family for their care and prayers.

I MADE IT HOME – I just wanted to let you know I made it home. Everything is so pretty here, so white, so fresh, so new. I wish that you could close your eyes so you could see it too. Please try not to be sad for me. Try to understand. God is taking care of me… I’m in the shelter of his hands. Here there is no sadness, and no sorrow and no pain. Here there is no crying, and I’ll never hurt again. Here it is so peaceful, when all the angels sing. I really have to go now… I’ve just got to try my wings. PS…I’ll be the first face you see when you get here!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jesse Garcia Mata, please visit our floral store.

PUBLIC VIEWING

Sunday
November 1, 2020
1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Robert Massie Riverside Chapel
402 Rio Concho Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76903

ROSARY

Sunday
November 1, 2020
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Robert Massie Riverside Chapel
402 Rio Concho Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76903

MASS

Monday
November 2, 2020
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
St. Joseph Catholic Church
301 W. 17th. Street
San Angelo, TX 76903