William Edward “Ed” Taylor, 91, of Patterson, passed away Friday evening, February 16, 2024, at his residence.
Born in Blackshear, November 22, 1932, he lived in Pierce County all his life. He was a welder and boilermaker by trade and had worked for different bomb plants in our area as well as shipyards in Jacksonville and South Carolina. He and his wife, Peggy, bought the Gulf Station in Blackshear and ran it for six years before moving to the country to farm as well as going back to working as a boilermaker. In 1980, he started Taylor Boiler Repair and also started Brantley Machine Fabricators but also continued to farm. In October of 2023, at 90 years of age, he retired. Over the years, he helped numerous men get started in the boilermaker business as well as helping some get their start in life. In his spare time, when he actually had some, he enjoyed fishing. In his younger days, he had also enjoyed hunting. He was of the Baptist faith.
He was a son of the late Ervin and Annie Lee Strickland Taylor. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Jo “Peggy” Manning Taylor; a son-in-law, John R. Griffis; both of his sisters, Irene Telzer-Bain (and her first husband, Biff Telzer, as well as her second husband, Bill Bain) and Alene Elizabeth Taylor and his brother and sister-in-law, Earl J. and Helen Taylor.
Survivors include his three daughters, Jan Griffis and Pam Walker both of Patterson and Debbie Taylor, Jacksonville, FL; two sons and a daughter-in-law, James Edward “Bubba” Taylor and Jamie and Tina Taylor, all of Blackshear; his adopted son, Mike Daniels, Patterson; six grandchildren, Erin Crews, Brent (Haley) Walker, DeeAnna (Bradley) Thrift, Jeremy Hougland, Mikayla Taylor, and Matthew Taylor; three great-grandchildren, Carter Mattox, Taylor Thrift and Jase Thrift; special friends, Allison Oglesby and Rick Fair, both of Blackshear and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Rowell, the Rev. Daniel Harris and the Rev. Jimmy Thrift officiating.
Interment will follow in the Laura Chapel Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Brent Walker, Bradley Thrift, Matthew Taylor, Carter Mattox, Taylor Thrift, Jase Thrift and Jeremy Hougland.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31501 or to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
