Mr. Tommy L Taylor

Tommy Leland Taylor 01/16/1938 – 07/19/2019 Tommy Taylor, 81, passed away July 19 in Huntsville Hospital. He was born January 16, 1938 to Morris and Juanita Taylor in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was reared in Sheridan, Arkansas and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1955. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Henderson State, where he was honored in 2004 with the Henderson State University Distinguished Alumni Award. Tommy was a member of the 1959 Reddie Football AIC Championship Team. In 2016, the team was inducted into the Henderson Reddie Hall of Honor. As an Aerospace Engineer with Marshall Space Flight Center, Tommy’s career required him moving several times, including Houston, Texas with the Apollo 11 Moon Mission. In 1969, he settled in Arab, Alabama where he raised his family. His career then led him to the U.S. Missile Defense in Huntsville, Alabama and with the Israeli Defense Department. Tommy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dian Nall Taylor, his daughters, Tammy Allen (Mike), Pamela Brady (David) and son, Tod Taylor (April); eight grandchildren, Blake Brady, Taylor Stewart (Zach), Natalie Norman (Juston), Ross Allen (Leslie), Sara Byars (Brandon), Rebecca Hinds (Bradley), Rachel Camp (Clay) and Alexandra Taylor; great grandchildren, Jack Brady, Peyton, Maddox and Slade Stewart, Gunner, Gus and Gradi Norman, Luke and Emily-Ross Allen, Nate and Grant Byars, Carson, Harper and Hollis Hinds, and Dylan and Brooks Camp; his sister, Kati Wilkerson (Jerry), sister-in-law Susan Nall Perry, and a host of loving nephews, nieces, family and friends. Preceding him in death are grandson Luke Allen and great-granddaughter Bennett Byars. Tommy is a member of First United Methodist Church. In previous years he served as a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church as well as being a Deacon. A visitation will be held Monday, July 22 at Arab First United Methodist Church from 6-8 p.m. and the Funeral will be Tuesday, July 23, at 2 p.m.; followed by internment at Arab Memorial Cemetery, Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, Directing Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Blake Brady and Ross Allen and his grandsons-in-law Juston Norman, Zach Stewart, Bradley Hinds, Brandon Byars and Clay Camp. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Arab First United Methodist Church (Building Fund), Arab First Baptist Centennial Challenge or Grant County Museum, 521 Shakelford Road, Sheridan, AR 72150.

Mr. Tommy L Taylor

January 16, 1938 - July 19, 2019