Obituary for Thomas Christopher Taylor
Thomas Christopher Taylor, 51, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2020 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born in Talladega, Alabama on April 19, 1969 to the late Hensie and Ruby B. Taylor. He attended elementary school and high school in Battle Creek, graduating from Battle Creek Central in 1988. While attending school, he played football, ran track and field, and wrestled.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army serving 4 years and Desert Storm achieving the rank of Spc. E4 with an honorable discharge in 1992. While stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, he met and married his wife, Myra, October 19, 1992 and to his union 3 kids (Allan, ShiLaNiQua, and Dymon). He later moved his family to Battle Creek, Michigan where he worked for Grand Trunk Railroad, Michigan Paperboard and RockTenn until his illness. He later would travel around the United States and Canada participating in car shows with his Ford Contour SVT and WON several First Place and Best of Show Awards. Most of all, he loved taking care of his wife and being grandpa (Papa) to his grandchildren, loved to cook, play video games, and was well known for making the best alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks; which the family deemed him as the best bartender in town. His lifelong dream was to become a bartender.
He leaves to mourn: wife, Myra; children, Allan (Brandi) Taylor, ShiLaNiQua (Darwin) Wilcox-Taylor and Dymon Taylor, all of Battle Creek, MI; grandchildren, Ariena, Darwin (DJ) Jr., Christian, Ameirah, King, Carson, Thomas II, Beckham and LeAsha, all of Battle Creek; brothers, Bishop Richard (Phyllis) Bailey, Rev. Willie Howard Taylor, Willie Carl Taylor, all of Battle Creek; Ray Anthony Taylor of Kalamazoo; and Calvin (Elsie) Taylor of Lincoln, Alabama; sisters, Rosie Taylor, Dorothy Ann (Wayne) Hall of Battle Creek; Sarah (Randy) Johnson) of Cleveland, Ohio; Julia (Marty) Young of Elmshurst, Illinois; Sara Ann Taylor of Chicago, Illinois; and Jane Shears of Talladega, Alabama. A host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Best friends: Leodis Williams and Tracey Walker both of Battle Creek, MI.
Preceded in death: mother, Ruby B. Taylor father, Hensie Taylor; brother, Elijah; sister, Dorothy Marie; father-in-Law, Herbert Lacy; mother-In-Law, Althea Ishman; step mother-in-law, Lupe Lacy; brother-in-law, Ronald Osby; grandmothers, Annie Mae Bailey and Nettie Ishman; grandfather, Benjamin Bailey and best friend, Jim Newman, and numerous aunts and uncles.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army serving 4 years and Desert Storm achieving the rank of Spc. E4 with an honorable discharge in 1992. While stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, he met and married his wife, Myra, October 19, 1992 and to his union 3 kids (Allan, ShiLaNiQua, and Dymon). He later moved his family to Battle Creek, Michigan where he worked for Grand Trunk Railroad, Michigan Paperboard and RockTenn until his illness. He later would travel around the United States and Canada participating in car shows with his Ford Contour SVT and WON several First Place and Best of Show Awards. Most of all, he loved taking care of his wife and being grandpa (Papa) to his grandchildren, loved to cook, play video games, and was well known for making the best alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks; which the family deemed him as the best bartender in town. His lifelong dream was to become a bartender.
He leaves to mourn: wife, Myra; children, Allan (Brandi) Taylor, ShiLaNiQua (Darwin) Wilcox-Taylor and Dymon Taylor, all of Battle Creek, MI; grandchildren, Ariena, Darwin (DJ) Jr., Christian, Ameirah, King, Carson, Thomas II, Beckham and LeAsha, all of Battle Creek; brothers, Bishop Richard (Phyllis) Bailey, Rev. Willie Howard Taylor, Willie Carl Taylor, all of Battle Creek; Ray Anthony Taylor of Kalamazoo; and Calvin (Elsie) Taylor of Lincoln, Alabama; sisters, Rosie Taylor, Dorothy Ann (Wayne) Hall of Battle Creek; Sarah (Randy) Johnson) of Cleveland, Ohio; Julia (Marty) Young of Elmshurst, Illinois; Sara Ann Taylor of Chicago, Illinois; and Jane Shears of Talladega, Alabama. A host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Best friends: Leodis Williams and Tracey Walker both of Battle Creek, MI.
Preceded in death: mother, Ruby B. Taylor father, Hensie Taylor; brother, Elijah; sister, Dorothy Marie; father-in-Law, Herbert Lacy; mother-In-Law, Althea Ishman; step mother-in-law, Lupe Lacy; brother-in-law, Ronald Osby; grandmothers, Annie Mae Bailey and Nettie Ishman; grandfather, Benjamin Bailey and best friend, Jim Newman, and numerous aunts and uncles.