TAYLOR, Terrel Lester - b. September 6, 1935 - d. April 29, 2020

[patyrn]

Terrel Lester Taylor was born in Bluejacket, Oklahoma on September 6, 1935 in the middle of the Great Depression as his father, Ross, and mother, Grace, struggled to run a small grocery story.  Terrel graduated from Bluejacket High School and went on to Oklahoma Christian College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where he met Charlotte.  They were married on October 31, 1954 in her hometown of Boise City, Oklahoma.  The couple celebrated their 65th anniversary on October 31, 2019.  Terrel passed away on April 29, 2020 at the age of 84.

The Taylors began attending the Dewey Church of Christ in Dewey, Oklahoma in 1963.  When he was only 32 years old, Terrel contracted with the church to build the house of worship that is still in use today. The Taylors made it a point to try to have every person in the church and guests visit in their homes at some time for a meal.  Terrel and Charlotte have a goal to meet the Lord when they die and call everyone they know to that same deep desire.  Terrel wanted to be remembered as a person who loved God and loved people. 

Founding Terrel Taylor Construction Company in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1958 alongside his father, Ross Taylor, Terrel has built more than one thousand  homes in the Oklahoma and Kansas area.  Customers, suppliers, and subcontractors often say they love the quality of Taylor homes.  While he enjoyed working with many partners through the years, he particularly loved working with his father and his son, Brent.  In addition to building homes, Terrel also traded a lot of cars, often to give a vehicle to a missionary, a family member, or anyone in need.  He didn't boast about the good deeds and generosity to his church and community. 

Terrel is survived by his wife, Charlotte; his five children; eleven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his brother, Rudy (Kathy) Taylor; his sister, Karen (Bob) Harmon; and his brother-in-law, Ray Helms.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Donna Mitchell and Shirley Helms; and his brother-in-law, Loy Mitchell.

A family graveside service was held on May 2 2020 at the Dewey Cemetery in Dewey, Oklahoma.  A Celebration of Life will be held on June 20, 2020 at the Dewey Church of Christ on Highway 75 in Dewey, Oklahoma.  Stumpff Funeral Home of Bartlesville, Oklahoma has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Stumpff Funeral Home website)