Odell Taylor died peacefully at Riverton Hospital in Utah on January 20, 2015 at age 89 of natural causes. He is survived by his daughter Susan Taylor Tanner and her husband Tres residing in Utah, and a son Dwayne Morrison and his wife Cathy residing in Statesville. He is also survived by his brothers Richard, Denny and Wallace Taylor and his sisters Marie Absher and Myrtle Bell, all of Wilkes County. He has 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Catholin and son Steven, as well as several brothers and sisters.
He was born on October 30, 1925 near Bluefield, West Virginia to Leonard Odell and Minnie Shumate Taylor. Odell served his country in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific on the Destroyer Escort USS England. His ship and crew were recognized for destroying the most Japanese submarines—six--within 7 days. His ship was also hit by several Japanese kamikaze planes that killed many of his friends and crippled the ship, but did not sink it. He lived the majority of his adult life in Wilkes County, a place he loved, called home and raised his family.
Odell was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served faithfully for over 45 years, including as a member of the Bishopric of the Wilkesboro Ward for several years. He was a quiet and gentle man who was devoted to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 3314 Statesville Rd, North Wilkesboro, NC at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday January 24, 2015. There will be a viewing before the service on Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 am. Interment will be held at the Taylor family cemetery in McGrady, NC.
