Mr. Earl Taylor, age 83, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 surrounded by his loving family and under Shepherd’s Cove Hospice Care. Earl was born July 26, 1940 in Marshall County, Alabama. He was the son of Ralph Montgomery Taylor and Princie Taylor Noble. He was a lifelong resident of the Arab area and a devoted member of The Arab Wesleyan Church. He was married to Nancy Gibson Taylor who preceded him in death (01/28/2014).
Earl spent his 60 + year career in sales, the past 40 years as a lumber broker. He had a long and successful career with, and retired (March 2023), from Russell Forest Products. He loved his job and loved his customers and fellow representatives. He enjoyed God’s beauty in nature. He grew a beautiful garden each year and shared the bounty with others in the community. He enjoyed watching the birds and kept them well fed. He, and his late wife, Nancy, were selected as recipients of The 2005 Marshall County Humanitarian of the Year Award. The two of them were always ready to offer assistance to those in need and strived to do more than their part to help those who could not help themselves. Earl and Nancy were instrumental (along with other members of Arab First Methodist Church), in establishing the Christmas Program for less fortunate Community Children, taking them shopping and demonstrating Christian love to them. A customer/friend stated, ‘His kindness will always remain in our hearts. He walked with Grace and had an uncommon feel for bringing out the best in whomever he met.’ A fellow representative said, ‘He was a representative that we all wanted to emulate but none came close.’ His employer, Kelly Russell said, ‘Earl was a model, professionally and personally for so many, including myself. It’s not just me that feels this way, it’s others in the office and in the industry that competed against Earl who believed he taught them so much.’
Earl leaves behind family members who will forever cherish each and every memory. Those family members include his daughters; Teresa Taylor Snider (John) and Pamela Taylor Cooper (Tate); grandchildren, Dr. Taylor Nicholas Snider (Adrienne), Nathaniel Tate Cooper (Morgan) and Emily Francis Snider; great granddaughters, Amelia Cooper and Olivia Cooper; brothers in law, Roger Gibson, Bill Gibson, and Eddie Brown; sisters in law, JoAn Taylor, Vickie Brown and Regina Gibson; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Gibson Taylor; parents, Ralph Taylor and Princie Noble; brother, Bruce Taylor; sisters, Brenda McKelvy and Pat Thomas; brothers in law, Donald Thomas and Troy McKelvy; sisters in law, Linda Gibbs and Joan Gibson; Pastor Nicky James and Pastor Cody Loftis will be officiating services for Earl, which will be at Arab Wesleyan Church, 2411 North Brindlee Mountain Parkway, Arab, AL.
The funeral service will be 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Family, friends and guests will gather for a visitation prior to the funeral service beginning at 3:00 p.m. Music will be presented by Jessica Conn, Marcus Flack, Emily Couch and Ethan Conn. Escorting Earl to his final resting place in the Union Grove First Baptist Church Cemetery in Union Grove, AL will be Dr. Taylor N. Snider, Nathaniel Tate Cooper, Jack Cox, Taylor Thompson, Daniel Paschal and Mark Holmes.
In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations be made to Arab Wesleyan Church Building Fund (P.O. Box 1086, Arab, AL 35016) or to Shepherd’s Cove Hospice (408 Martling Road, Albertville, AL 35951).
Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing
