Stanley Taylor Spies Jr.

Stanley Taylor Spies Jr., 36, died the morning of Friday, April 20, 2012, at his home in Wilmington, where he lived with his wife, Jacquelyn Parkhill Spies, and two sons, Jude Xavier and Noah Isaac. Born in Easton, MD, October 7, 1975, to Stanley Taylor Spies, Sr., and Margot Mundt Spies, he graduated from Easton High School in 1994. He received a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. While at the University, he was an active member of the agriculture fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho, and served as its President from 1996-1997. He also served as the vice-president of the University’s over-all fraternity governing body, the Inter Fraternity Council (IFC). Taylor obtained a joint Masters degree from Purdue University and Indiana University in 2010; Master of Agriculture Economics from Purdue and Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana. Taylor started his business career in Washington, DC with World Perspectives, a daily Agriculture news information magazine. The next 10 years he worked for Perdue Grain of Salisbury, Maryland. Taylor developed many close relationships during his years at Perdue. Taylor also had the opportunity to write a weekly column for the Delmarva Farmer newspaper. Writing the articles kept him connected to the agriculture community of which he was so fond. For the past two years Taylor worked for Murphy Brown Grain of Rose Hill, North Carolina. Taylor joined Murphy Brown in June of 2010. In March of 2011, he assumed the leadership role as Director of Procurement for MB East. Though his career pulled him away from the family farm, he remained involved and proud to have grown up on an eastern shore farm. In 2009, Taylor and his brothers established Tidewater Vineyards and Triple Creek Winery on the home farm. Taylor’s great passions were his family and his faith. A soccer ball on the beach with his wife and sons was the definition of a perfect afternoon to Taylor. While in Salisbury, he served as a Youth Group leader at St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church. Taylor enjoyed explaining faith and life in terms that registered with the teens of the church. His thirst for reading and knowledge went beyond education and faith. There were very few times Taylor was not reading three or more books, simultaneously. Over the next days and weeks, many will have untold and re-told stories of his adventures that reflect on the joy that he brought to countless lives. In Taylor’s advanced directives, he wanted people to remember he enjoyed life and the friends he shared it with. He wrote, “I want people to take my love of life and live it!” He is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn; sons, Xavier and Isaac; brother, Paul (Laura) Spies; brother, Alex Spies and Terri; brother, Corey and Katie Spies; grandmothers, Peggy Mundt, Doris Lee Taylor, and Anne Spies; nieces, Miranda, Maddi, Mackenzie, Georgia, Audrey and Alexis; nephews, Blake, Peyton, and Brennon; in-laws, Wayne and Pamela Parkhill; sister in-law, Marla and Michael Harrison. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Donald “Tinner” Spies and John J. Mundt Sr. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 27, at St. Marks Methodist Church in Easton. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury. The burial in Oxford Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to benefit Xavier and Isaac’s care and education and sent to Talbot Bank c/o Bea Juliano, 18 East Dover St., Easton,MD 21601. Checks are to be made payable to:Jacqui Spies FBO Xavier/Isaac.

Stanley Taylor Spies Jr.

October 7, 1975 - April 20, 2012