Troy Eugene Taylor

Troy Eugene Taylor, 79, passed away Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Emory Decatur Hospital in Decatur, Georgia. Born in Alton, Illinois on September 2, 1941, he was the son of the late Aura C and Beatrice (Pigg) Taylor.
He married Nancy Kaye Kreftmeyer on February 23, 1963 in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, both went on to happily remarry. He graduated from the Reserved Officer Training Corp (ROTC) program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on August 23, 1963. He went on to serve his country in various stateside assignments and at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. On June 30, 1975 he received an honorable discharge and used the GI Bill to earn a degree in Urban Planning and Public Administration. After attending school in Richmond, Virginia he settled in Manassas Park, Virginia where he served as the Planning and Zoning Commissioner. He met Betty Morris at a Carolina Shag dance and they would be married on September 2, 1989 in Glenwood, Georgia. Troy retired in 2001 and moved to Monroe, Georgia where he lived until moving into the Regency House Senior Living Community in 2021. Troy had a passion for sports and music (he loved dancing). He was a lifelong fan of baseball and loved the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoyed college basketball and cheering on Wake Forest. He loved all things Jimmy Buffet and considered himself a Parrothead. Troy was a devoted pet parent, and we would be remiss if we did not mention his beloved dog Skipper.
Troy leaves behind a large family. He is survived by a son, Michael Taylor (Shannon) of Okotoks, Alberta; a son, Gregory Taylor, of Decatur, Georgia; a daughter, Cindy Sell of Great Falls, Montana; a son, Bradley Taylor (Tammie) of Billings, Montana; as well as his step-children Carol Tang, Bebe Erbesfield (Mark); Sherri Duckworth (Rob); and Angela Hawes (John) as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Douglas Eugene Taylor; his parents; his sister, Shirley Yates as well as Betty’s parents Mama and Papa.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:00 am in the chapel of A.S. Turner and Sons with Rev. Richard Hull officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Captain Taylor will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors at a yet to be determined date. A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Cremtory is in charge of arrangements.