Richard Wayne "Ric" Taylor

Richard Wayne "Ric" Taylor, age 75 of Greenbrier, passed from this life on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
Ric was born March 10, 1949 in Stanley to the late Cecil and Tilda Mae Jenkins Taylor, Sr. He was retired from Verizon. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Cecil Jr., Woody, Ronald, Peter, Bobby, Alfred, Reubin, Roger, and Jimmy Taylor; and sisters, Geneva Jenkins and Betty White.
Ric, Richard, Dad, Papaw was excessive in everything: his generosity; his acceptance; his friendships and family; soccer; gardening and yard work; decorating for the holidays; his clothes, shoes and cologne; and above everything his love for his wife, his kids, and his greatest joys- his grandkids.
He had so many nieces, nephews, and friends that he loved like family that I could go on for days naming them, but you all know who you are and how much you were loved. Oh, and the stories he would tell (repeatedly) about you all could fill a library.
He loved his kids and their friends so much that he started a soccer league and coached for years when there was a need. That turned into a great love of soccer that he got to share with Mom, Jason, Sonya, Austin, and anyone that would let him. He never missed a chance to cheer at one of mine, Jason's, or Austin's games if he could help it. He never missed a grandkids event if he were able and would even watch and cheer at videos if he could not be there.
His generosity was amazing. He would give anyone the shirt off his back without them even needing to ask. He would happily let any of his friends, his kid's friends or his family live with him. I truly believe he would have been happiest living on a commune with all of his family and friends living with him. He would have happily gardened for everyone. He was a master gardener (self-taught) and could make a rock grow.
The man was a looker and loved jackets, clothes, cologne, and shoes. He was never vain, but he definitely loved to be "spiffy". He could also cut a rug like no one's business. We grew up with him and my mom winning many a twist contest.
He loved to decorate for the holidays like "Clark Griswald." He would climb all over the roof to hang lights and would even borrow a cherry picker when we were kids to put lights up. Our holidays were always the best and brightest.
He was also excessive in his hugs. He could bear hug better than anyone and would squeeze the stuffing out of you. He did it often.
He loved our mom to excess. They were married for 53 years on December 17. They had a lot of difficulties but always loved their way through it and set a great example for us kids. He thought our mom hung the moon and would let her decorate it anyway she wanted. Now that being said if he could have married anyone other than our mom it would have been Dolly Parton whom he also loved excessively.
I cannot even express how much he loved all of us and we all know he was excessive and generous in showing it. He would love for us to think of that when we think of him.
How much we know that he loved and accepted us; and how very much he was loved and knew it!
Surviving him are his wife, Carol Taylor of Greenbrier; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Christopher Wills of Aledo, TX and their children,, Olivia "YaYa", Thomas Christopher "T.C.", Keith, Riddick, and Cyrus Wills ; son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Sonya Taylor of Gallatin and their children Eric Pennington, and Austin, Emma, and Amelia Taylor ; brother and sister-in-law, Charles Edward and Ann Taylor of Wheaton, MD; sister, Frances of New market, MD; sisters-in-law, Debby (Joe) Formoso of New Port Richey, FL, Joyce Murray of Kingsport, and Linda (Jon) Carver of Hudson, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family request, if so desired, for memorial contributions to be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations, Cumberland Heights Treatment Center, or CASA of Robertson County.
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