Mr. Billy Ray Taylor, age 72, of the Morgan City community of Union Grove, Alabama, passed away in Huntsville Hospital on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Billy was born September 11, 1950, in Nashville, Tennessee, son of Bill Taylor and Margaret Morrow Taylor. Billy and wife, Reta Ann Knott Taylor, shared 36 years of happily married life. Billy worked in construction as a painter. He was a US Army veteran (Vietnam) and attended Mt. Tabor Baptist Church.
Billy was proud of his military service time and was an active member of the American Legion Post #8 in Guntersville, AL. Being born in 1950, Billy was part of the “baby boomer” generation and grew up experiencing Beatlemania (1964) and the Woodstock festival (1969). As an adult Billy enjoyed riding his motorcycle, tolerated Alabama football because Reta liked it, watched old western TV shows and shopping. He had traveled to Canada and the western United States and enjoyed the trips immensely and would have loved to go again.
Family left behind to cherish precious memories of Billy include wife, Reta Ann Knott Taylor; sons, Todd Gross, Jason Taylor, Justin Taylor, Billy Barton and Billy Bower; daughters, Margaret Taylor Lang and Amanda Barton; step-daughter, Sherry King; brothers, Phillip Taylor and Randy Taylor; sisters, Leesha Reliford and Tammy McVoy; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Family members preceding Billy in death include: parents, Bill and Margaret Taylor; sisters, Sherry Taylor and Debra Taylor Irvin.
Memorial service for Billy will be graveside 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family has elected cremation.
Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing
