Claude A Taylor

Claude A. Taylor, age 99, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2015, in Wichita Falls, TX. He was born on July 11, 1915, in Montgomery County, Arkansas to William and Riss Etta (Thrash) Taylor. Claude graduated from Guernsey School in Arkansas in 1934 as valedictorian of his class. He married Opal Wise on May 9, 1936. During their 61 years of marriage they enjoyed traveling overseas. Their favorite trip was to the Holy Land. He attended Arkansas Tech and Henderson State Teachers College where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education degree. His post-graduate studies were continued at Midwestern University. He lacked only his thesis to obtain his Master's degree.

He began his teaching career at Guernsey as a math teacher and basketball coach. Claude taught at several schools, but ended his career in 1951 at Cove, Arkansas as a principal, math teacher, and basketball coach. At that time, Claude moved to Wichita Falls to work for C.W. Taylor Construction Company which was owned by his brother, Curtis. Together, they built numerous commercial and residential buildings including Lamar Baptist Church sanctuary, three fire stations, and several Country Club homes. Claude extended his knowledge of the construction industry as a broker with Pioneer Real Estate.

For nearly 50 years, Claude was a faithful member of West Side Baptist Church. He served as a deacon until the church merged with Lamar Baptist. He also served as a Sunday school superintendent, teacher, and mentor. For the past two years, Claude attended Faith Baptist.

Many people knew Claude by his handiwork both in the garden and in the wood shop. Over the years, his garden earned him the nickname of "The Turtle Creek Gardener." He was featured on TV in the Warren Silver Report for his gardening. His woodworking abilities earned him many blue ribbons at the Texas-Oklahoma Fair and was featured in the Times Record News for the beautiful doll houses he built for his granddaughters.

Claude is preceded in death by his wife; brothers Curtis, Glen, Kennedy, and Bobbie; sisters Cleo Cope, Sibbie Sipes, and Willie Mae Calhoun.

Survivors include his son James (Susan) Taylor; daughters Nina (Arley) Fancher and Joyce (Mike) Shepard all of Wichita Falls; grandchildren Laura (Tommy) Johnson, Jim (Lisa) Taylor, Tracy (Chris) Watts, Kory (Mike) Dorman, Robert (Angie) Duncan, and Richard (Mindy) Duncan; great-grandchildren Ashleigh (Sean) Street, Tyler Johnson, Austin & Bryce Watts, Kordell Dorman, Abbie & Reed Taylor, Lizzie, Hallie, & Mia Duncan; great-great grandchildren Nolan and Daniel Street; brother Homer Taylor of Warner Robbins, Georgia; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 6-8 on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1:00 on Friday, February 6, 2015, at Faith Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, TX with Robert & Richard Duncan (grandsons) officiating. Burial will be in Crestview Cemetery under the direction of Hampton Vaughan.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staffs of Hospice of Wichita Falls and The Gables at Rolling Meadows. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76310