Charles Taylor Gandy

1935 - 2025

Charles Taylor Gandy

November 19, 1935 - September 16, 2025

Fort Worth, Texas - Charles Taylor Gandy, a former Fort Worth City Councilman, lawyer, and beloved businessman and philanthropist, died September 16, 2025, leaving a deep legacy of public service in a city he called home for most of his adult life. He was 89 years old.

Taylor, as everyone fondly knew him, was born November 19, 1935, in Meridian, Texas, the oldest of three sons of Alton and Marguerite Gandy of Meridian and Valley Mills, Texas. He developed his affable personality and his joy of talking to people by working in his parents' smalltown grocery store and delivering groceries to customers.

Taylor graduated from Valley Mills High School in 1954, and went on to the University of Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (with honors) in 1957. He worked as an accountant for Arthur Anderson in Houston for three years until he pivoted into the legal profession. In 1962, he got his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law (with honors) and was promptly admitted to the State Bar of Texas that same year.

In short order, he began practicing law in Fort Worth in 1962, was honored as Outstanding Young Lawyer in Tarrant County and elected to City Council just seven years later, in 1969. He served four years on council, including two years as Mayor Pro Tem. Despite his demanding law practice as a certified specialist in Probate and Estate Planning, Taylor always found time to give back to the city he cherished and the community that had also given him so much.

He and his wife, Shirlee, devoted decades of support and service to the arts community. Gandy served as Chairman of Casa Manana from 2011-2013, Chairman of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. from 1996-1998, Chairman of Fort Worth Arts Festival in 1991, Chairman of Fort Worth Cultural District Committee in 1991, President of the Fort Worth Arts Council in 1987-1989 and Director Emeritus of Texas Wesleyan Board.

After 30 years in law, Taylor shifted his professional life from law to real estate development with Shirlee. Together, this dynamic couple helped revitalize significant properties throughout downtown Fort Worth and made lasting contributions to business and arts organizations to benefit the nation's 11th largest city. They acquired the original Fort Worth Club Building in downtown Fort Worth and built the elegant, boutique Ashton Hotel in 2001. Taylor and Shirlee also acquired the Fort Worth Train Depot, preserving its role in the city's rich history dating back to the cattle drives and stockyard days and the rail industry that helped grow Fort Worth. Now known as The Ashton Depot, it has become a destination for celebrations and community events.

Taylor and Shirlee have made countless contributions to the city's museum district. And, in collaboration with Downtown Fort Worth Inc, they co-chaired the campaign to erect a bronze statue of President John F. Kennedy in General Worth Square in downtown Fort Worth. As passionate admirers of the late president, Taylor and Shirlee worked tirelessly to raise funds for the creation and placement of the statue on the same location of Kennedy's last public address on the day of his assassination.

Apart from his professional and community endeavors, Taylor was the rock of the extended Gandy family. His children Sherri Moore, Brad Gandy, Doug Gandy and Ashlee Johnson will miss Taylor's wisdom, cheerful support and loyalty, and his faithful love of family. His brother, Don, says he was the best big brother anyone could ever want.

Taylor and Shirlee were married for nearly 50 years and were true partners in every sense. Shirlee was devoted to Taylor, and they worked lovingly and tirelessly to contribute to the greater good of Fort Worth through their business and philanthropic ventures.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Casa Manana, Inc. of Fort Worth (kindly email development@casamanana.org to note your donation has been made in Taylor's name so the family may acknowledge your gift) or the charity of your choice.

Taylor was predeceased in death by his parents and brother James Gandy and his Yorkie best friends, Annie and Rosie, aka "The Girls."

Survivors include wife, Shirlee; brother Donald Gandy; both of Fort Worth; children Sherri Moore (Gary) of Newport Beach, CA; Brad Gandy (Diana McMillan), of Bedford; Doug Gandy (Sandy), of Hudson Oaks, and Ashlee Johnson (Chuck Mooney) of Fort Worth, grandchildren Jeffrey, Ryan and Scott Moore, TJ and Jason Gandy, Kristin, Brandon and Blake Gandy, Campbell and Claudia Jung and 15 great grandchildren.

The family also wishes to thank caregiver Margie McCoy for her faithful service to Taylor in his recent years of declining health.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, 800 W 5th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. A celebration of life will follow at FW Club from 4 - 6 p.m. In honor of his memory, guests are invited to wear shades of blue, his favorite color.