Clyde Edward Taylor, 89, of Taylorsville, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, June 1, 2026, following a period of declining health.

Clyde was born May 4, 1937, in Lincoln County, NC, a son of the late Alvin Marion and Minnie Alice Sigmon Taylor. He retired from the City of Leesburg, FL, as a deputy fire chief after many years of dedicated service. He was also an EMT. Clyde was never one to sit still, and he continued to work in various capacities all throughout his retirement.

His personal projects were many and varied. He loved to build and constructed his own workshop completely on his own. He remodeled his house on his own, and his wife was often left wondering what she would come home to after work. He was a certified master gardener and always kept a garden. He used his talent with greenery in the work he did with Ebenezer Methodist Church in their community garden. Possibly his favorite activity was working on and restoring old cars and tractors. No sooner was one finished than he had sold it and moved on to the next piece. One of his favorite phrases was that “God intended our bodies to work,” and work he did. Those he knew him would appreciate that his life could best be summed up as follows: “He was always willing to help other people.”

In addition to his parents, Clyde is preceded in passing by his son, Robert Wayne Taylor; four brothers, William Hall Taylor, Howard Taylor, L. A. Taylor, and Clarence Taylor; and a sister, Betty Joan Powell.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of thirty-two years, Jane Carol Welty Taylor; four daughters, Carol Marie Walsh, Linda Jean Cardona, Judith Ann Taylor, and Joyce Marie Blackburn; two brothers, Fred Thomas Taylor and Ernie Ray Taylor; twelve grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 2 PM to 4 PM at Concord Baptist Church in Granite Falls.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Carolina Caring at https://www.carolinacaring.org/give/.

Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory is assisting the family.