Leslie Ray Taylor

Leslie Ray Taylor

ROCKY MOUNT - Leslie Ray Taylor, 63, passed away while surrounded by family on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

Les was the fifth oldest of eight children and was born on April 17, 1955 to Leslie Lee and Edna Warbritton Taylor of Edgecombe County, NC. He attended West Edgecombe School as a young man and joined the United States Army in 1972, at seventeen years old. Les loved his time in the Army and was honorably discharged in 1978. He qualified as an Expert Marksman and earned the prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge among others while he was enlisted.

On June 9, 1974, Les married his high school sweetheart, Carol Jeanette Coley of Rocky Mount, NC, and the two welcomed two daughters and a son in the years that followed: Mandy Nicole, in October 1975; Melissa Gail, in June 1980, and Leslie Shane in July 1982. At the time of his passing, Les and Carol had been married for 44 years and were still madly in love.

Professionally, Les worked as a Service Technician for Amerigas in Nashville. He served their customers for thirty-five years and was well-known and well-loved in Eastern, NC. He believed in and stood for the love of Christ in ways that inspired those around him, and he will be missed beyond words by a family who adores him.

Leslie was preceded in death by his mother and father and is survived by: his wife, Carol Coley Taylor; his three children: Mandy Taylor Smith, Melissa Taylor Thomason and Leslie Shane Taylor; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; seven siblings and a whole family of in-laws that call him "Dad" , "Pa" , "son" and "brother."

If you knew Les Taylor, you loved him. And if you loved him, his family would love to connect with you! Please consider reaching out via Facebook. Memorial Service details will be shared as soon as they are finalized.

As published in the Rocky Mount Telegram