Gene was born on a cold Valentine’s morning in 1938 in his grandmother’s home in Bertram, Texas to Sam A. and Ruth Knight Taylor. He grew up attending Bertram schools and was a member of the first Bertram Little League team in 1950. He graduated from Bertram High School in 1956, and then continued his education at Nixon Clay Business College in Austin. Upon graduation, he purchased and ran the Gulf service station in Bertram until selling it in 1960. He then went to work for the Bertram Lumber Company.
Gene considered February 15, 1958 the day that changed his life. This day was his first date with the lovely Annie Dell Snow. Five years younger than Gene, she was in his brother Mac’s class in school and had caught his eye. They were married June 9, 1961 and celebrated 60 years of marriage in June 2021. Gene and Annie Dell were blessed with two children, Cheryl and Justin.
He became a Journeyman Carpenter and worked in Austin on many projects including the main post office. The next several years were spent working for Starfield Construction, building commercial buildings throughout Austin and the surrounding area. He became Project Manager for RB Butler in 1977, and was in charge of the construction of many car dealerships, warehouses, factories, and other large commercial buildings in Austin.
After 21 years of working for various construction companies, Gene left the Austin commercial construction business to go to work for himself as a contractor. Through the years, Gene and his father Sam built and remodeled approximately 50 houses.
In addition to his construction career, Gene raised livestock and operated P&R Propane, a business he acquired in 1980.
Gene and Annie Dell have worked tirelessly for their community. Some of the organizations where Gene has held office include:
School Board member, Bertram ISD and Burnet CISD
Burnet County Appraisal District Board
PEC Nominating Committee
Bertram Chamber of Commerce
Bertram Nursing Home Board
Mt. Zion Cemetery Board
Burnet County Livestock Show Association Board
Bertram Development Company, Inc.
Some of his proudest accomplishments for the Bertram community are the Burnet County Veterans Memorial, Pinky Wilson statue, Bertram Community Center building, and the renovation of the Bertram baseball fields.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Ruth Knight Taylor, and his great-grandson Samuel Bryan.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Annie Dell Taylor, daughter Cheryl Shipp and husband Alan, son Justin Taylor and wife Buffy; grandchildren Danielle and Stephen Bryan, Trent and Kimberly Shipp, Denton Taylor and Ashlynn Volek, Aubree Taylor and Locke Davis; great-grandchildren Emory Bryan, Harper Bryan, and Adelaide Shipp; brother Mac Taylor and wife Nelda; in-laws Norman and JoAnn Snow and Johnny and Julie Klose; nieces Lori Ringstaff, Laurel Herzog, Elise Mason, Laine Thomas, Anna Bland, and Zae Swor and nephew Henry Snow.
The simple things in life gave him the greatest joy – the giggles of Emory, Harper, and Adelaide; sitting on the back porch visiting with family and friends and watching the sheep graze; phone calls or playing cards with friends; drop-in visits from his grandchildren; going out to eat; time spent at home and traveling with Annie Dell, and his memories from the last 83 years.
One of the last things he told us was “I’ve had a good life”. Anyone who knew him would agree.
A celebration of Gene’s life is planned for January 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Bertram, followed by burial at Mt Zion Cemetery. Pallbearers are Denton Taylor, Trent Shipp, Stephen Bryan, Locke Davis, Cash Ringstaff and Cade Ringstaff.
Care has been entrusted to Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ClementsWilcoxBurnet.com for the Taylor family.
