Willard Austin Taylor, age 91, Phil Campbell, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2016 at his residence.
Mr. Taylor proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. He was retired from Reynolds Aluminum after years of being a crane operator.
The visitation will be 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Spry Memorial Chapel, with the funeral following at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel with military honors. Bro. Jerome Sherrill and Dr. Scott Delashaw will officiate the service. Burial will be at Mt. Home Cemetery in Belgreen.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 69 years, Mary Gladys Taylor; daughter, Esther Sue Taylor Gowder; son, Lester Hugh Taylor (wife, Kathy); grandchildren, Shena Haley, Jeanna Haley, Bradley Hugh Taylor, Holley Meranda Pate (husband, Scott); great-grandchildren, Ella Joy Pate, Micah Wesley Pate, Jonathan Taylor; sister, Ruth Durrett; brother, Alford Taylor (wife, Delores); sister-in-law, Marvalene Taylor; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Larry Joe Taylor; daughter, Tommie Jean Taylor; son-in-law, Ted Gowder; parents, Eugene & Mattie Taylor; brothers, Elmer Taylor (wife, Dorothy), Jim Taylor, Earl Taylor (wife, Francis), Bob Taylor (wife, Lorell), Archie Taylor; sister, Martha Butler Baird (husband, John Butler); brother-in-law, Barney Durrett; special friends, Paul Taylor, Aaron Durrett, Danny Pace, and Claude Taylor.
The honorary pallbearers will be Sammy Taylor, Glenn Taylor, Alford Butler, Charles Wayne Taylor, Jimmy Taylor, Steve Taylor, Steve Pace, Jerry Pace, Barney Durrett, Jr., David Durrett, and Gene Taylor.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Hospice of North Alabama, Kasie Brown, Kathy Dungess, Betty Robinette, and Candace Twilley for the love and care of our family,
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family.
