Obituary of Kenneth Royal Taylor

Kenneth Royal Taylor, age 78, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Ardmore, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, October 27, 2023, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest of Ardmore with Pastor Randy McFarland officiating. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Ardmore. Kenneth was born on August 9, 1945, to James Ira Taylor and Melba Rachel (Westerman) Taylor at Olney, Texas. He attended Gainesville Schools and earned his GED. He enlisted in The United States Navy on November 30, 1962. He served during the Vietnam War, earning the rank of Machinist Mate Third Class, MM3 (E-4), and was honorably discharged in 1965. Kenneth married Miss Brenda Schilling on November 11, 1966, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The couple lived in Gainesville where he worked with his family in a wrecking yard and went out on his own junking motors. In 1970, he took a position with National Supply, an oil field supply company, working in maintenance and later working on the line. When National Supply closed in 1983, he took a position with Alan Ritchey Trucking out of Valley View, Texas, as a driver and for Tom Gibbs Trucking as a subcontractor for Roadway Packaging Systems Trucking in 1992. He purchased his own truck, started his own fleet, and continued to operate with RPS which changed to FedEx Ground and in 2006 he sold his business. Kenneth kept himself busy, always working in his own shop and working on anything that was mechanical. He would always say he could “fix anything from the break of day to a broken heart.” He loved spending time with his wife in the kitchen, as they were early risers, drinking coffee and playing cards. His shop was always open with a pot of coffee ready for anyone who would drop in. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Denny Wayne Taylor, sister, Dorma Campbell, and sister, Glinda Fay Thompson. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Brenda, daughter, Melody Collins and husband, Duane. Six grandchildren: Jessica Sullivan and husband, Michael, Justin Collins and wife, Jana, Bryan Collins, Dale Collins, Travis Taylor, and T.J. Taylor, and ten great-grandchildren. Sisters: Pat Seeds and Linda Atchison and husband, David, brother, Tom Taylor. Nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Justin Collins, Bryan Collins, Dale Collins, Duane Collins, Michael Sullivan, Larry Schilling. A visitation will be held on Thursday evening, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, October 26, 2023, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home. The family would like to extend their love and gratitude to the staff of Unit Seven of the Ardmore Veteran’s Center and Cross Timbers Hospice for both of their wonderful love and care given to Kenneth.