IONIA, MI -- Robert Taylor, 56, one of two men killed Wednesday in what police believe was a road rage-fueled gunfire exchange, formerly worked as a state Department of Corrections officer, an obituary shows.

The information, published in a two-line notice Friday, Sept. 20, in the Lansing State Journal, offers further insight into Taylor's past as two families grieve the death of loved ones this week.

Police arrived at the Wonder Wand Car Wash, 426 S. Steele St., just after 7 p.m. Sept. 18 to find Taylor and James Pullum, 43, both suffering from what proved to be fatal gunshot wounds.

Days later, many questions remain for authorities and those who knew the men about what transpired in minutes leading up to the shooting.

Detectives believe Pullum and Taylor pulled into the car wash in separate vehicles following a road rage incident involving tailgating. An argument began and shots were fired between the two. Both had concealed weapons permits and carried handguns that night.

News of the shooting startled Shawn Moore, of Orleans, who considers Taylor and his wife close friends and stopped by the couple’s Ionia home Sept. 20 with a bouquet of flowers wrapped in tissue paper.

Robert Taylor and Moore’s uncle were friends for many years, and through their friendship, the Taylor’s learned of Moore and his bricklaying abilities. They hired him to install steps leading up to their home and a path through their ornate rose garden.

Moore spent hours working at the home, he recalled, but he often spent more time talking with Robert Taylor.

“He had a really good sense of humor,” Moore said, thinking of how Taylor would make a joke to see if he could trick Moore. “Haha, I got ya,” he would say.

Taylor enjoyed hunting from time to time and spoke often of gun safety. Taylor believed strongly in the right to carry, Moore said, but he always spoke of how gun owners must “be responsible and cool-headed.” He understood how important that was.

“That makes it even more hard for me to understand,” said Moore, still in disbelief over of the gunfire exchange between Taylor and Pullum. “It just keeps going through my mind … I have a hard time accepting it.”

Moore thought of how the Taylors often would spend time with his children and share holiday gifts with them as he worked at their home. They always so gracious, he said.

Related: Relatives of James Pullum, one of two dead in road rage shootout, witnessed shootings

Many questions remain, but Moore urged others hearing about the shooting not to jump to conclusions. The pain is still raw for so many who knew the two men.

“What can we learn from this?” Moore said. ““Both families lost somebody that they’re never going to see again. Maybe we should think about that.”