Joey Wood Taylor, 64, of White Lake passed away Friday, January 18, 2019. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother. Joey is preceded in death by his father Ernest Kent “Tom” Taylor, paternal grandparents Calvin Taylor and Flora “Taffie” Taylor and his maternal grandparents John L. Clements and Etta Mae Grady Clements of Grifton.
Joey had a degree in Industrial Management from Mount Olive College and was a Professional Land Surveyor. He had his own business for many years and worked with several other companies before his final job with Campbell Oil and Gas Co. as a Project Development Manager.
Joey is survived by his wife Patricia Kennedy-Taylor; mother Loretta Carol Bray and husband Rex of Sunset, Louisiana; sons Joshua Wood Taylor and wife Jennifer of Wilmington and Jordan Tyndall Taylor and wife Allison of Winston Salem; step-daughter Elizabeth Anne Howard and husband Quinn of Kenansville; granddaughter Salem Leigh Taylor and step-grandson Turner Quinn Howard; a very special “Uncle Buddy” Taylor and Aunt Clara of Kinston; brother Ernest Kent “Butch” Taylor, Jr. and wife Sharon of Swansboro; nieces Melody Smith of Kinston, Charity Kohkemper of Swansboro, nephew Matthew Taylor of Raleigh and his precious fur baby Charlee Wood Taylor of White Lake.
Joey proudly served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. He was a hero in more ways than one as he fought the battle for his life from February 26, 2016 until January 18, 2019 against pancreatic cancer. He grew up in the Woodington area and always had a passion for adventure. His passion was sports, either playing, coaching or watching them. He loved flying any type of airplane, glider or helicopter, golfing, skydiving, boating, fishing, ziplining and amusement rides. He loved riding his bicycle and participated in several Cycle NC and MS 150 rides. The one thing Joey loved more than anything was spending time with his family and friends.
Visitation will be held at Howard-Carter Funeral Home on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with funeral services beginning at 2:00 p.m. with Pastors Cameron McGill and Bobby Hunter officiating. Graveside will be held at John Green Smith Cemetery.
The family would like to thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts for everything that has been done for them over the past three years. Joey was a great man and he will be forever loved and missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to The Lake Church, 1930 White Lake Dr., White Lake, NC 28337.