James Taylor Jr.

JONESBORO - James C. Taylor Jr., 86, of Jonesboro passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. He was born in Monette on Oct. 20, 1936, to James C. Taylor Sr. and Shella M. Duncan Taylor. James moved to Jonesboro in 1961 where he lived the remainder of his life.

James was a veteran of the Arkansas National Guard and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He worked at Crane Co. until they closed and he retired from the U.S. Postal Service where he worked for 31 years until the age of 76. James loved cars and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lola K. Taylor; a son, Steven S. Taylor of the home; one daughter, Rhonda (Taylor) Lauder and her husband Dennis of Pennsylvania; four grandsons and their wives, Bruce, Jacob (Maria), Elliott (Holly) and Garrett Lauder; five great-grandchildren from Pennsylvania; and a brother, Ruben Taylor of Bull Shoals.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Leon, Bob and Bill Taylor, and a sister, Mary Lou Ross.

Eulogy for Dad, written by Rhonda Lauder:

"Daddy was a simple man and he wouldn't want us to make a fuss over him, but he deserves a fuss. He loved his family and he loved working. He was a self-made man, and he studied and learned new things all the time to help advance himself. Dad could do just about anything from fixing his vehicles to analyzing the stock market.

He was always trying to teach me something and encouraged me to be independent and educated. He would tell me "There are no free lunches." Sitting on the side of the road one day waiting for AAA, for four hours, to come, I regretted not listening better when he tried many times to teach me how to change a tire.

And I can't tell you how many times he rescued me because I forgot to put gas in my car and he had to run and save me. He was my hero in so many ways. He always made sure Steven and I knew how much he loved us.

Dad loved to fish and when he and mom and Steven would come to Pennsylvania to visit us, he would spend the entire time fishing at our pond for the big catfish. He would insist we all come out every time he pulled one in to witness how big it was, and take a photo.

Dad had a great smile and a twinkle in those blue eyes and he thought he was hilarious with his dad jokes like when I would ask, "How do you feel?" He would always reply, "With my hands."

Dad loved Jesus and we have the peace and comfort of an assurance that he is there with him now. If we all lived our lives the way he did we would all be better off for it.

Dad was kind and gentle and will leave a lasting impression on everyone who knew him and a hole in the hearts of those of us who loved him. We will miss him greatly, but we will see him again."

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale.

Visitation will precede the service beginning at noon. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery at Springdale.