Bobby Harrison Taylor

Bob Harrison Taylor, aged 89, died at home in the house he and his wife, Peggy, helped design and build, where they raised their family and lived since 1964. Bob loved his family and enjoyed his passions of boating, fishing and hunting.  He had a huge workshop in the basement, and a man-cave in before the phrase was invented, where he worked on his coin collection in inclement weather and watched his western TV shows; and hosted many steamed oyster dinners and family celebrations. His love of travel and adventure began when he served in the Navy during and after WW II.  With many of his 11 siblings, he traveled the country after 32 years at Greyhound.  He and wife Peggy also traveled around the country and the world to visit children and grandchildren.  He loved the outdoors in all seasons:  the annual fall leaf-raking over his vast lawn, and not minding a bit when we children jumped in the huge piles of leaves.  One winter, he fashioned a one-of-a-kind snow sled that went way faster than any of our friends’ sleds.  In the fall, he could not wait to start fishing. In the summer, he never minded the heat and maintained his huge vegetable and flower garden.  One summer, he found a go-cart and worked on it so we kids could drive it around what used to be the country roads around our house.  In his sixties, he bought a new bicycle for himself and was as excited as a kid, for coming from a family of 12 children, he had never had a new one. Generous, charming and fun-loving, he never knew a stranger.   He adored his parents, all 11 of his brothers and sisters and their spouses and their families, his three girls, their spouses and children; and especially his wife, Peggy, whom he met at a basketball game in high school.  They married immediately after Peggy graduated, in June 1949, and honeymooned in New York, far from their tiny hometowns of Quaker Gap and King in the foothills of North Carolina.  Always physically active, Bob maintained the family home and yard well into his eighties, and always loved a project.  We will remember him as Bob, Bobby, Daddy, Mr. Taylor, Ganpa,  Papa and Mr. Bob, and as one-half of what must be one of the longest- lasting marriages ever – 67 years on June 11 of this year. Bob’s survivors include wife Peggy,  and descendants include daughters Carla V. Fryman, Cyndie Taylor Pershing, and Bobbie Jo Taylor Nicholson; grandchildren Taylor Pershing, Harrison Pershing, Thomas Nicholson, and Joanna Nicholson;  and sisters Anne Richards and Betty Gallaher.