Emmitt Earl Taylor's Obituary
Our cherished Emmitt Earl Taylor received his reward on the evening of March 29th, 2023. He passed away at home, surrounded and comforted by his loved ones.
Emmitt was preceded in death by Mary Lou Taylor, his beloved wife of 67 years, who passed away earlier this year, as well as his parents, James Elbert Taylor and Lois Lourine Lyle, and older brothers, James Edwin and Henry Lawrence Taylor. He is survived by his three children, Lorna McLemore of Haslet, TX, Doyle Taylor and wife Karen of The Woodlands, TX, and Jeffrey Taylor and wife Heather (Beth) of Princeton, TX, his nine grandchildren, Rachelle Cooper and husband Walt, Kyle McLemore and fiancée Lessa Scott, Brian Taylor and wife Emily, Chris Taylor and wife Leslie, Jenny Taylor, Cody, Travis, Jake and Madison Taylor, as well as his six great-grandchildren, Taylor, Knox and Gage Cooper, Oliver and Sadie Taylor, and Justin Taylor.
Emmitt was born in Altus, OK on April 2nd, 1932 and raised in Frederick, OK. His family later moved to Fort Worth, where he played football and baseball at Paschal High School until his graduation in 1950. Afterward, he attended Rice Institute on an athletic scholarship, graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics in 1954, and was then hired by the Arthur Andersen accounting firm as a CPA. In January of 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was also set up on a blind date with Mary Lou McConathy by her cousin and his roommate, Doyle Adair. Emmitt was smitten from the moment they met and knew Mary Lou was destined to be his wife. After six short months of dating, the two wed in July at West University Church of Christ in Houston, TX. Once he completed active service in January of 1957, he resumed work at Arthur Andersen accounting firm while also continuing to serve in the US Army Reserves. In 1962, he was honorably discharged from the Reserves and went to work for Tenneco. In 1969, he took a job with Dresser Industries and moved his family from Houston to Dallas. During his 27-year tenure at Dresser, he was promoted to the Director of Internal Audit and retired in 1996 as Staff Vice President and Director of Audit and Security Services.
During his free time, he enjoyed jogging as well as playing racquetball and handball at the YMCA. Emmitt was exceptionally handy and enjoyed woodworking (much of the furniture he made is used by his family to this day) and loved working on hobby cars, including rebuilding an Austin-Healey. Emmitt was also an avid traveler. They started camping due to Jeffrey’s interest and soon fell in love with RVing, which they continued for many years with family and friends. Over the years, he and Mary Lou visited all 50 states and many countries around the world. One of his greatest loves was music, especially singing. Some of his favorite singers included Bing Crosby, John Gary, Luciano Pavarotti, and Jim Reeves.
Emmitt’s love of music carried over to worship services, where he enjoyed leading songs and training young men to become song leaders. Mary Lou and Emmitt were one of the founding families of Melrose Drive Church of Christ in Richardson, TX (later Custer Road Church of Christ in Plano, TX). He served there as an elder for decades, later as a deacon, and attended there until his death. He and Mary Lou often opened their home to young men in the Church who needed a temporary place to live, whom they considered to be their adopted sons. In his life, Emmitt Taylor showed himself to be a strong leader, a loving Christian, and a faithful servant of God.
What’s your fondest memory of Emmitt?
What’s a lesson you learned from Emmitt?
Share a story where Emmitt's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Emmitt you’ll never forget.
How did Emmitt make you smile?