Kirby Michael Taylor

Kirby was born in Houston on the 10th of February 1992, to Keith and Gina Avioli Taylor. Kirby attended Condit Elementary, Lanier Middle School, Bellaire High School, Texas A&M University, San Jacinto College and Rice University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2015. Kirby had a successful career at TD Securities (USA) LLC.

Kirby made his family proud from the moment he entered their lives, paving his own path with confidence and grace. From a young age, Kirby was the ultimate outdoorsman and athlete. He learned to swing a bat seemingly moments after taking his first steps and baseball became his first love. He pursued this passion playing for Bellaire Little League, countless summer and tournament teams, the Bellaire Cardinals, the Texas A&M Aggies, the San Jac Gators, and the Rice Owls, earning honors on and off the field.

While at Rice, Kirby was a 2014 Honor Athlete, was named to the 2015 NCAA Division I District 7 Academic All District First Team and was the 2015 Rice Baseball Scholar Athlete of the Year. In Conference USA, Kirby was on the 2013-2015 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, on the 2015 All-Academic Baseball Team and named to the 2015 All-Conference Second Team. He was inducted into the Bellaire Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. Later in life, Kirby enjoyed coaching his nephews and their friends with West University Little League. He remained an active supporter of Rice baseball.

Kirby was also an avid fisherman, duck hunter, golfer, and delighted in training his dogs, Tuvé and Bruno, to be retrievers. He was a junior board member of the Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club in Rockport. Kirby relished the time he spent at the Frierson home on Copano Bay and teaching his nieces and nephews to fish and hunt. Kirby enjoyed Sunday suppers and impromptu gatherings with his loud and loving family. Kirby lived life to the fullest. He never met a stranger.

After first meeting in middle school, Kirby reconnected with the love of his life, Helen Frierson, in 2015. He knew she was the one after their first date, introduced her to the family by their third date, and they married in November of 2019. They were devoted to each other. Kirby often called Helen his angel. This past January Kirby and Helen welcomed their daughter Eloise Kirby Taylor. Kirby was so proud to be a father. Helen and Eloise were the light of Kirby’s life.

Kirby is preceded in death by his infant sisters, Abigail Marie and Emma Louise Taylor. Kirby is survived by his wife, Helen Frierson Taylor; his daughter, Eloise Kirby Taylor; his parents, Keith and Gina Avioli Taylor; his sister, Amanda Taylor and future brother-in-law Wesley Hill; his brother, Seth Taylor; grandparents, James and Dolores Avioli, and Carroll and Betty Taylor; his beloved in-laws, Ray and Theresa Frierson, Brett and Elizabeth Taaffe, Andrew and Jessica Frierson; nieces and nephews, William, Thomas, Isabelle, and Eleanor Taaffe, Joshua, June, Jeremiah and Hayden Frierson, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends who cherish his memory.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 17th of March, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Kirby is to commence at seven o’clock in the Jasek Chapel.

The Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 18th of March, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby St. Basil Hall.

The family will gather for a private Rite of Committal at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston following the reception.

The family thanks Kirby’s team of MD Anderson Cancer Center doctors, nurses and staff for their compassionate care.

In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider a donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center (bwh23), PO Box 4470, Houston, Texas 77210-4486 in honor of Kirby, or by visiting http://mdacc.convio.net/goto/HonoringKirby.

Kirby will be remembered by all as the incredible, intelligent, kind, determined, and courageous man he always was. He touched so many lives in the years he shared with all of us. Though we wish there were more, we cherish the time we had with him. Kirby will always be with us.