GENEVA CAMPBELL TAYLOR, 79, a retired Garland
ISD teacher, passed away Nov. 29, 2005 at the home
of her daughter in Dallas, with burial in Evergreen
Cemetery at Ranger, TX. She attended Ranger High
School in the Class of 1943.
She is survived by husband of 59 years, Boyd, a
Church of Christ minister, daughter Sheryl Davis
and son Derl Taylor.
HUSBAND: JAMES BOYD TAYLOR, 97, died March 3,
2019, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery at Ranger, TX.
Boyd Taylor was born in Wingo, KY. on Aug. 30, 1922
to Elbert & Rhoda Coltharp Taylor. His family moved
to Paducah, KY when he was about two years old. He
knew at an early age that he wanted to preach. On
Dec. 31, 1938 & Jan. 1, 1939, at the age of 16, he
preached his first three sermons in Berea, III. He
graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1940.
In the fall of 1940, Boyd left Kentucky with his twin
brother Byron to attend Abilene Christian College. As
a young preacher student, he was preaching in Bronte,
TX, one Sunday when a young woman wanted to be baptized.
Her last name was Cornelius. He often said that his
preaching got off to a Biblical start by preaching at
“Berea” and later baptizing “one of the household of
Cornelius.”
In Feb., 1944, he began full-time work with the church
in Iowa Park, Texas, commuting from Abilene by bus each
weekend until his graduation from college in May of that
year.
Boyd met his wife, Geneva Campbell (RHS-1943), during
his senior year at Abilene Christian. They married in
May of 1946.
In 1951 he began working with Lincoln Street, a new
congregation in Wichita Falls, Texas, that was started
by the 10th and Broad Church of Christ.
He moved to Irving, TX, in 1957 to work with the Eastside
Church of Christ until 1963 when the church in Iowa Park
asked him to return. In 1967, he began preaching for the
church in Petrolia, TX, where he stayed until 1973 when
he moved to Garland, TX to begin work as the education
minister for the Austin Street Church of Christ. After
a few years he wanted to return to full-time preaching.
In 1980, he began working with the congregation at Heath,
TX, where he preached until he retired in Jan. of 2006,
after Geneva passed away in late 2005. He has been a
member at Saturn Road since that time.
From Junior High School through College Boyd was active
in band and orchestra, playing the baritone, french horn
and violin. Something many people might not know is that
Boyd was a charter member of the Irving Symphony in 1961,
playing violin and also sang in the Town North Men’s
Barbershop Chorus for several years.
Boyd left this world on March 19. Boyd’s parents, his
sisters Bonnie Troutman and Ozell Record, brothers
Burton and Byron, niece Charlotte Record and nephew
Tommy Troutman and his favorite (and only) son-in-law,
David Curlee preceded him in death.
He is survived by his children, Sheryl Curlee and Derl
Taylor. Also surviving are nephews Jim Record, Bob
Trotuman, David Taylor and Charles Howard Taylor.
Nieces Barbara (wife of Tommy Troutman) Sue Wiman,
Janet Flournoy and Gloria Jean Taylor. He is also
survived by the children and grandchildren of best
friends, traveling and camping buddies for 50 years
plus, R.L. and John Roberts, who lovingly call him
Uncle Grandpa.