Jack Sullivan Taylor, or Grumpy as he was affectionately called, stopped, “waiting for Jesus” and joined his Lord and Savior on July 12, 2019. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Jack was born in Ludington, Michigan on April 5, 1932. He was the oldest of four children, two boys and two girls. He was raised during the Great Depression primarily by his paternal grandparents and often told stories of his grandpa, the Second Hand man. His early upbringing influenced his life and the way he approached it.
At 17 years of age, he enlisted in the Army Airforce where he attained the rank of Sargent as a radio mechanic. As a radio mechanic, he specialized in the B-24, Liberator and the B-29, but used his skills in a variety of planes. He served during the Korean Conflict. While serving, he married his first wife, Nita Elloise Dailey, in 1950. They divorced in 1989.
After his military service, he moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he received a degree from Ouachita Baptist University. His first employment after college was with the Chamber of Commerce in Texarkana, Texas. He eventually relocated to Humble, Texas where he was the first manager of the Humble Chamber of Commerce. Jack went from the chamber to a company which manufactured oilfield packing and gasket products.
Jack was also a successful businessman, co-owning Taylor’s Photography with Nita Taylor. He also taught photography at North Harris County Junior College. He enjoyed teaching and his students loved his sense of humor and playful way of teaching. He also started his own successful oilfield packing and gasket company, Impco Industries.
Jack married Mary Lea Layton in 1990. They enjoyed going to Houston Oiler and Astro’s games. They also enjoyed traveling in their motor home and to their house at Lake Tahoe where they entertained many guests and family members. During the summer months, you could often find them playing the slots or Black Jack at Harrah’s, giving visitors tours of the Tahoe-Reno area, or enjoying the big breakfast at the Wagon Wheel in Truckee, CA.

Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Taylor.

Jack is survived by his wife of twenty-nine years, Mary Lea Layton, his sisters, Pam Borek, Cindy Mosier and her husband, Denny, his daughters, Sharon Taylor of Humble, Lisa Kodosky and her husband Warren of Austin, Christine Taylor Foreman and her husband Roger of Austin, his son, Kevin Taylor and wife Debra of Porter. Jack had five (5) grandchildren: Derwood McCorquodale, Jr., Robert McCorquodale, Jonathan McCorquodale, Bryan Kodosky, and Robin Kodosky; three great-grandchildren: Amri Kimball, Neveah McCorquodale, and Grace McCorquodale; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack’s family wishes to thank his care givers at Elmcroft of Rivershire Assisted Living in Conroe, Texas. They would especially like to thank Grace Hospice for the care, compassion, time and attention they gave Jack. They spent time talking and listening to his stories. That was truly one of the greatest gifts they could have given him.

Visitation will be on Sunday, July 21, 2019 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Rosewood Funeral Home, 2602 South Houston Ave. Humble, TX. Funeral services will be Monday, July 22, 2019 at 10:00 am at Rosewood in the Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Ouachita Baptist University. Even better, take a friend to lunch, visit a shut-in, or spend time with someone in an assisted living facility. The happiness, hope, and love you generate will last longer than the warmth from a sunflower or the softness of a rose petal.