Pottawatomie County Obituary
Tecumseh Cemetery

© Havenbrook Funeral Home
Date unknown
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Janet Flickinger

JACK THOMAS TAYLOR

January 17, 1927 - September 30, 2017

Jack T. Taylor was born on January 17, 1927 near Macomb, OK and passed from this life on September 30, 2017 in Norman. Jack was born to Henry and Iva Taylor and was one of seven children.

On October 4, 1952, Jack married Iva Jean Henry and they had been married 59 years at her passing. They enjoyed fishing, traveling, and investing their lives in the needs of others. Jack was a faithful care-giver to Jean for decades as she battled various illnesses and chronic pain in the last years of her life.

Jack was proud to serve his country in the Army during the Second World War and as a career civil servant, working for Tinker Air Force Base for most of his adult life. In mid-life, while working full-time at Tinker, Jack went back to college and completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Oklahoma. Highly respected during his career, he earned multiple awards for improving efficiencies and reducing costs for the federal government.

Jack was a member of the Noble Church of Christ and served two different churches as a deacon, elder, and Bible Class teacher. He was dedicated to Christ and was generous in supporting many spiritual causes.

Jack was the ultimate family man. A child of the Great Depression, he developed an incredible work ethic, helping his parents provide for the family while offering caring guidance and close friendship for his siblings. As loving parents, Jack and Jean provided rich and varied experiences for their boys through family vacations, camping trips, water sports, and church involvement. Jack will best be remembered as a doting grandfather and great-grandfather. Dubbed “Culp” by his youngest grandson, the name stuck. There is nothing that Culp would not do for a grandchild. He played games, he taught them to fish, and he fixed their toys, bikes, and cars. He created an incredible country experience at the extended-family farm where the kids enjoyed hiking, fishing, gardening, riding the go-cart, and building fires in the chiminea. Culp’s thanksgiving meals are legendary. Culp taught us all how to love unconditionally. He was an inspirational example and constantly expressed his confidence and his pride in his family.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, by sisters Geraldine and Ailene, brothers Jim and Bill, and his dear wife, Jean. He is survived by his sister Wynona Goodin, brother Larry Taylor, and brother-in-law, Stanley Henry. He leaves his sons, Mike Taylor and Kelly Wolf of Chicago, and Mark and Karla Taylor of Edmond, his grandchildren: Jeremy Taylor, Kathryn Taylor, Patrick Taylor, Karissa Parkhurst, and Karenna Taylor and precious great-grand children: Braedeon, Isabell, Kyleigh, Keegan, Ally, Lorabeth, and Isaiah.

Services will be at the Noble Church of Christ at 10:00am on Thursday morning, October 5, with interment in Tecumseh. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Rock Creek, P.O. Box 7301, Moore, OK 73153.