Jerry Taylor

Services for Mr. Jerry Lynn Taylor, of Alba, are scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home, Alba, with Kenneth Taylor officiating.

Mr. Taylor passed away March 7, 2024, in Lindale, just two days before his 84th birthday. He was born on March 9, 1940, in Dallas, to Millard Cecil Taylor and Flora Lee Walker Taylor. Jerry was 1 of 9 children. He was preceded in death by his parents; six siblings, Florence Fletcher, Robert Taylor, Mary Kines, Richard Taylor, Sue Lamb, and Tom Taylor; and stepson, Michael Guice.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Taylor of Alba; his children, Jimmy Taylor of Flint, Jacky Taylor of Flint, Perry Taylor and wife Patty of Whitehouse; stepson, John Guice and wife Sherri of Denton; stepdaughter, Kelly Guice Ellis and husband Kirk of St. Joseph, Michigan; two brothers, Harold Taylor and wife Mary Fae of Anna, and Joe Taylor of Boles, Arkansas; eleven grandchildren, April Harrod, Keely Riggs, Ashlee Rivers, Cassie Robertson, Rachel Meszler, Jake Taylor, Jessica Callender, Kyler Callender, Turner Taylor, David Bearden, and Anna Taylor; fourteen great-grandchildren, Bailey, Kenzie, Presley, Tripp, Londyn, Nolan, Alice, Audrey, Chance, Darcie, Xander, Riley, Jack and Carter; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Jerry will be remembered for his loving personality, his kind smile, and his love for his family. Jerry was a great mechanic. If you had a problem with a vehicle, or a motor, or anything really…he would talk to you about it and figure out the solution to what it needed to fix it. He knew how to work on pretty much anything and find a way to make it run. He was a great mechanic and machinist. Even in the last few months when he was so sick, Jerry would check with everyone making sure brakes were good and the oil was changed.

Jerry was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Jerry enjoyed fishing tournaments all over East Texas and was a guide on Lake Fork. He was a great cook and made amazing smoked bologna. He could smoke or grill anything and it was fantastic! Jerry always wanted to make sure that when you were around you had something to eat and drink. He wanted you to feel comfortable and have a good time. Mary and Jerry had a camper set up at Lake Fork (the fish camp) and enjoyed their time there with family and friends at Lake Fork Marina.

Jerry worked at Affiliated Foods for many years. Later he moved to Briggs equipment and retired from there in 2006. Jerry and Mary sold their home in Irving and moved to the country to retire near Lake Fork. Jerry has fished Lake Fork since it was built and has had many many largemouth bass catches to boast about! However… Mary wants it noted that he may have caught more “big ones” but HERS was the biggest, 13lbs, and she never let him forget it! Be it catfish, crappie, or bass… just mention the words you want to go fishing and you hear .. “yea” ..” lets go” Jerry would have the bait ready and fishing poles ready in the boat all set up to go fishing for whatever was biting.

Jerry loved his Mary.. He loved his kids.. loved his grandkids and great-grandkids and truly enjoyed being around them. He went to football games, baseball games, volleyball games, and birthday parties. He tried to be active and present in their lives as much as he could.

Jerry was a Baptist. He was not a man who believed that you had to go to church to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He was happy he had a good life and wanted everyone who he loved to know that he DID LOVE them and he hoped they did know it.