Joe Leonard Taylor was born January 2, 1973 in Decatur, Alabama and died August 21, 2025 peacefully at his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
Joe is survived by his wife of 33 years, Julie Taylor, of Bell Buckle; two children Caitlyn (Mike) Kelly and Wesley Taylor; and one grandchild, Ayden Kelly, all of Hudson, Florida; six siblings and bonus siblings, Jason (Honey) Taylor of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; Lynne (Jeff) Brittain of Wellington, Alabama; Lloyd Bradshaw II (Wendy) of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lloya (John) Osier of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Louis Bradshaw of St. Petersburg, Florida; and Linda (John) Bellam of Columbia City, Indiana; fourteen nieces and nephews; and countless cousins.
Joe worked the majority of his adult life for S&W Electric Contracting in Murfreesboro and cherished his many friendships made over the decades there.
From the outside, many could mistake Joe’s sometimes quiet and reserved first impression for who he was. But, after only moments, his true personality was on full display.
Joe was a legendary storyteller. He could talk for hours to friends, loved ones, and complete strangers alike, sharing cherished memories and tales that entertained, engrossed and sometimes distracted his audiences. The longer you knew Joe, the more you heard his favorites recalled, many on repeat.
He had a sly grin, a mischievous laugh and a southern accent that would turn into a mumble when those stories of his kept going with too much detail.
Joe was a simple man in many ways who could be defined by his tastes. He loved his wife, his son, his daughter and his grandchild deeply. He loved his extended family near and far and prioritized keeping in touch. He was a loyal friend who would help anyone on a project, no matter how big or small.
He was passionate about all things Alabama, from his beloved Crimson Tide that adorned most every item of his wardrobe, to his favorite restaurants (Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q and C.F Penn Hamburgers), to his extended family whose deep roots in Alabama brought Joe an immense sense of pride and identity. He loved a cold Sun Drop and had a sweet tooth that would rival any.
Joe was also a collector. Throughout his life, his collections brought him great joy and pride. Whether it be his childhood G.I. Joes and baseball cards through his adulthood tools, shoes, knives, toys and figurines and collectibles; everything had its particular place in Joe’s space, including his secret snack and drink stash. He kept his collections in his own unique way and always wanted his car or truck spotless.
Over the last 18 months of his life, Joe courageously fought ALS with his normal care-free, positive outlook alongside his devoted wife and high school sweetheart, Julie. The two inspired many through their journey and Joe never doubted her love and care, even as he drew his last breath on this earth.
The family would like to thank all those who prayed, served and contributed towards Joe’s fight against ALS.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, September 7 at 2 p.m. at Saddle Point Event Venue in Bell Buckle. Friends and family are invited to attend.
