Rex was born on December 18, 1950, to Joe and Bernice Taylor in Monroe, Louisiana. After graduating from Fair Park High School in 1968, he began a four-decades-long career at SWEPCO, making life-long friends while progressing to become the manager of the department of customer accounting.
In 1975, he found himself smitten with his co-worker’s daughter, Carol Wilson, who had taken a part-time summer position at SWEPCO. After a few months of dating, with the help of singer-songwriter Jim Croce, Rex explained to Carol, “you’re the one I want to go through time with.” They were married on March 2, 1976, later having two children, Steven and Rachel. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Rex never gave his family reason to doubt his love. He actually wanted his love to be taken for granted.
After retiring in 2010, Rex spent his time spoiling his grandchildren, volunteering at Calvary Baptist Church and Academy, chairing the board of Deacons, and cheering for Calvary’s sports teams. Exemplifying Jesus’s command to simply love, Rex devoted himself to greeting, welcoming, and uplifting others.
Rex is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Donald (deceased wife Paula). He is survived by:
• his wife, Carol;
• his son Steven, wife Kelli, and their three children Emma, Ethan, and Evelyn;
• his daughter Rachel, husband Samuel Glidewell, and their son Silas;
• his brothers, Joe (wife Carolyn), Roy, and Tim; and
• his sisters, Donna LaRue Sandifer (husband Gary Sandifer, Sr.), Wanda Simpson (deceased husband Bobby) and Mary Morgan (husband Roy).
Pallbearers are Wayne Taylor, Travis Houston, Gary Sandifer, Jr., Taylor Sanborn, Bryan Roe, Jordan Taylor, and Isaiah Sanborn.
Memorials to Rex should be made to Calvary Baptist Church, C/O Faith Missions- 9333 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106.
