Joe Alan Taylor Sr.

Joe Alan Taylor Sr., 78, of Jonesboro passed from this life on Monday, June 27, 2017. He was born in Jonesboro to the late William and Gladys Taylor on November 23, 1938. Joe graduated from Bay High School in 1956 and married the love of his life Joyce Flemon in 1957. Shortly thereafter Joe joined the United States Air Force with his best friend, Lavon Morgan, who also retired from the Air Force. Joe was a Captain of the U.S. Air Force when he retired after 25 years as a Missile Wing Commander for the Titan II Nuclear Missile. Joe also earned a Business degree at University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Joe owned and operated JT Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha in Jonesboro for 27 years before retiring again. He enjoyed being outside and was technically and mechanically inclined. Joe built two houses for his family over the years and enjoyed working on motorcycles. His hobbies included deer hunting, fishing, and motorcycles. Joe was also an avid Razorback fan and enjoyed football, basketball, and boxing. In addition to his parents, Joe is preceded in death by his brothers, Harding (Joyce), Bill, and Alfred (Alice); brother in law, Tony Libhart.
Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce Taylor of Jonesboro; daughter, Tamra Chavis (Randy) of Darlington, South Carolina; son, Joe Alan Taylor Jr. (Evelynn) of Sitka, Arkansas; sister, Dr. Bonnie Libhart of Huntsville, Alabama; sister in law, Noor Taylor of Orange California; precious grandchildren, Joey Alan Taylor III of Germantown, TN, Hayden Taylor of Jonesboro, Kylie Taylor of Jonesboro. He also had bonus grandchildren Martin Ray of Paragould, Matthew Ray of Paragould, and Sarah Ray of Sitka, Arkansas. He was also loved by former daughters in law, Becky McGonigal, Shannon Cline, Angie Lowery, Emily Berry, and Kendra Milsap.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church with Rev. N. Wayne Clark officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Keller’s Chapel Cemetery with the United States Air Force acting as pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers will be Steve Hufstedler, John Beason, Nathan Thompson, Randy Chavis, Lisa Oster, Connie Novalick, Paul Taylor, Clay Flemon, Red Rover Hunting Club, and the Bay High School class of 1956.
The visitation will be prior to the service from 1:30-3:00pm. In consideration of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Children’s Home Inc., 5515 Walcott Rd., Paragould, Arkansas 72450.