Obituary of Carl D Taylor

Obituary of Carl Taylor Jr. Carl D. Taylor Jr was the second of four children, born April 11, 1924 in Ferris, Texas to Carl D. Taylor Sr. and Georgia Smith Taylor. He departed this life April 27, 2016 at Briarcliff Home, Tyler, Texas. Carl spent his youth in Ellis County and attended public schools at Walnut Springs and Bristol, Texas. He graduated Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas 1943. After graduation he and a favorite cousin Thomas Smith took the train to Detroit, Michigan. There he worked at Chrysler until he was drafted into the United States Army, June 1945-January 1947, and served in Europe during World War II. Before leaving Dallas a daughter was born to Carl, Faye Norwood (Nathan). After his discharge from the service Carl returned to Detroit for a short stay before returning to Dallas. He graduated Hampton-Williams School of Mortuary Science, Phillips Business School of Dallas, Texas and attended Bishop College. In September 1947 Carl Married Dollie Dawson and to this union one daughter was born Eunice LaVon”Daddy’s Baby.” He worked as an Insurance Agent for Prudential Insurance Company for 20 years. Affiliations: Member of the Board of Trustees of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Secretary of the Dallas Local Funeral Directors Association for many years; member of the Independent Funeral Directors Association of Texas Inc.; Member National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc.; and Washington-Lincoln Alumni Association. His participation in civic and community affairs include a term on the Dallas County Grand Jury, two terms on the Dallas Rehabilitation Board, 4 terms as member of the Credit Committee of the Knights of Pythis number 326 Federal Credit Union, past C.C. of the Knights of Pythis Fraternal Lodge number 326, and a member of Park South YMCA. Awards: Outstanding Services to St. Paul A.M.E. Church (1964), Devotion to Duty as C.C. of Knights of Pythis Fraternal Lodge number 326 (1966), Outstanding Accomplishments and Leadership from Prudential Insurance Company (1967), Outstanding Leadership in building the New St. Paul A.M.E. Church (1970), Outstanding Leadership as Chairman of Men’s Day Activities at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, the Dignified Personal Service Award from the North Texas District of Independent Funeral Directors Association of Texas, Inc. (1989). Funeral Service Experience: Dallas Mortuary (Hampton-Williams) for several years; also Crawford Funeral Home. One year with Thrash-Mosley Funeral Home. Organizer of Pleasant Grove Mortuary, Inc. Manager of Pleasant Grove Mortuary, Inc. Mr. Taylor had the distinction of having one of the earliest funeral director license numbers issued in the state of Texas. At the time of his passing, he was notably the oldest licensed funeral director on active status with the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Those preceding Carl in death include parents, Carl & Georgia Taylor Sr., sister, Essie LaVon Taylor, brother, Alonzo “Tut” Taylor. Some of those left to cherish his memories include his loving and devoted wife of sixty-nine years, Dollie Taylor, daughters, Eunice Cicero (W. Harold), Ben Wheeler, Texas, Faye Norwood (Nathan), Dallas, Texas, god-daughter, Alice Widemon (Jerry), Dallas, Texas, grandchildren, Shelia Pettigrew, Ben Wheeler, Texas, VaSundra Tutt, Tyler, Texas, Rex Harold Cicero, Tyler, Texas, Tony Widemon (Amy), Kileen, Texas, Tyrone McDaniels , Dallas, Texas, Ramonda “Paulette” Busby (Jason), Dallas, Texas, Victoria Hall Bass (Tyrone), Wilmer, Texas, Jackie Harrison (Lewis) of Richardson, Texas, Jonathan Norwood of McKinney, Texas and Bernard Cicero of Dallas, Texas; 21 great grandchildren, 3 great, great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins , extended family and friends.