Roscoe Taylor Jr. "Scoby"

Roscoe Taylor Jr., affectionately known by family and close friends as “Scoby”, was born on January 7, 1954, to Roscoe Sr. and Ferdye Lois (Young) Taylor in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his father, Roscoe Taylor Sr.; his paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents.

Scoby attended St. John A.M.E. Church with his family as a young child. He also spent countless hours at The Eastside Christian Center. He was a Boy Scout at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. When he was thirteen, he gave his life to Christ and was baptized by Dr. Andrew J. Brown at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church where he was a member until 1993. As a teenager, Scoby was very active in the Civil Rights movement while under Rev. Brown.  He marched to the Governor’s Mansion twice and was a part of the very first Indiana Black Expo and Circle City Classic. He was also a part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which had a local chapter called Operation Bread Basket. He was a part of the Operation Bread Basket choir for several years, traveling all over the country. As an adult he was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, a Board member and involved with countless other ministries. Scoby became a part of the Unity in Christ Family Worship Center in 2016, under Pastor Rodney Cork and remained a member until his passing. He was a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Treasurer and Board member. He loved UIC and its members and looked forward to everything the church did. He did every duty with a passion because he loved the Lord with a passion. Scoby loved studying the Bible and could answer most questions that he was asked. If he did not know the answer then, you can believe he was not going to be satisfied until he found it. Scoby’s belief was so strong that he never had any doubt where he would be when he transitioned from here.

Scoby received his education at Indianapolis Public School #26 and Arsenal Technical High School where he graduated, Class of 1972. He started playing the flute in 5th grade and became proficient at it that when he started going to Tech, he was in the Band the entire four years. He could also play the saxophone and piano. He was also in the High School Choir

Roscoe was offered and accepted into a program through General Motors right after high school graduation in 1972. He went to the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan to study for six weeks at a time, then he would work at Detroit Diesel Allison for six weeks. He did this until he became a full-time employee. He worked for General Motors/Rolls-Royce for 41 years and retired as a journeyman tool and die maker in July 2013. He made many lasting friends while working there. Anyone that knew him, knew he was a Christian and loved discussing the Lord. He led bible study and prayer groups. Whenever you walked past his work area, you heard gospel music playing and him singing. He always had a warm greeting for you, but not a lot of conversation because he was a firm believer in working while on the clock. His co-workers knew that he would always make time for them, though, whether it was on break or after work.

Roscoe met the love of his life, his soulmate, his best friend in the summer of 1969 and they were married five years later on November 9, 1974. They cherished 45 years of wedded bliss. From their union, they produced three children that he was so proud of and loved so much. Antoinette, whom we call “Suki”, Roscoe III, also known as “Scooter” and Damon. He also considered his son-in-law, Amon and his daughter-in-law, Kellie his children as well. He loved them and would give them advice just like he did his children, whether it was wanted or not. Scoby ALWAYS gave his opinion. Scoby and Diane decided early in their marriage to spending time together was most important and there was very little time when they were not together. They enjoyed their time together and spent a lot of time talking. They could talk for hours at a time, but they could also enjoy comfortable silence. It used to amaze them how often they would be thinking the same thing at the same time, or one of them would say what the other was thinking. They also spent a lot of time laughing. Scoby had a sense of humor and you could find yourself laughing at the most inopportune time! He also loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. He will meet the newest addition to the family one day.

Scoby never thought he was doing enough for the Lord, so he wanted to do some volunteer work. He became a Stephen Minister through St. Vincent Hospital. Once he was trained, each week he would visit patients at the hospital. He would talk with them, pray with them or just quietly sit with them. He also volunteered at the food pantries and missions.

Scoby leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Diane Taylor; daughter, Antoinette Sanders (Amon); son, Damon Taylor (Kellie); six grandchildren: Sierra Webb, Taylor Sanders, Amon-Ra Sanders, Christian Sanders, Kennedy Taylor and Damon Taylor II; two great-grandchildren, Xander Gamill and Michaela Doyle; mother, Ferdye Taylor; sister, Toni McClendon (Stanley); and a host of nieces, nephews, in laws, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.