Kenneth "Ken" Howard Taylor

Belton, Kenneth “Ken” Howard Taylor, 86, dedicated husband, proud father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed peacefully away with his children by his side on March 25, 2023, at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, TX. He was born in McAllen, January 20, 1937, to Lee and Alice Cameron Taylor. His father was born in Chamal Mexico, and his mother was born in Alta Cima, Mexico, on the other side of the mountains below El Cielo. During WWII, when Ken and his brothers Wesley and Gilbert were young, the family lived in the Panama Canal Zone and Cuba. After the war, the family settled in McAllen. The youngest of three boys, Ken and his brothers spent much of their time in Chamal, Tamaulipas, Mexico at their grandparent’s ranch. Ken loved Mexico and delighted in sharing the history of his great grandparents that were one of eighty-six that formed the Blalock Mexico Colony on the Hacienda El Chamal in 1903. Ken graduated from McAllen High School in 1956 and was a proud alumnus. He played football and was co-captain of the baseball team with his good friend Nikki Rowe. Ken earned a bachelor’s degree from Pan American University in Edinburg. He owned and operated McAllen Iron Works, which was originally started by his dad. He was a founder and partner in Valley Armature and Electric in McAllen. Ken loved football, spending 25 years officiating Friday nights games. He served as President of the Valley Officials Association. He is an endowed member and Past Master of the McAllen Lodge #1110, A.F. & A.M, earning his 50-year pin. After Ken retired, he and his wife moved to the Belton Lake area where he followed his father’s passion for woodworking, spending much of his days in his workshop making interesting wood objects for family and friends. Ken was a member of the Southwest Association of Turners. Ken was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church in McAllen, serving as an elder and singing in the choir. After moving to Belton, Ken became a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Temple. Ken is preceded in death by his parents and brother Gilbert Taylor. Ken is survived by his wife Rena Williams Taylor, his first wife Barbara Emig, children Leslie (Marshall) Myers of Uvalde, Neil (Sheila) Taylor of McAllen, Angela (Michael) Shupe of San Antonio, Jeffrey Schroeder of Belton, Judy Schroeder of Jarrell, grandchildren Erica Person, Elizabeth (Chris) Shurley, Chris (Brooke) Shupe, Blaine (Brittany) Shupe, Brittany (Jordan) Beckhusen, Kimberly Taylor, and Leah Fountain, and great-grandchildren Makenzie & Sophie Shupe, Bronwyn and Fynn Shupe, Declan, Audan and Ronan Shurley, Collins Beckhusen and Kinsley Tijerina, and brother Wesley Lee Taylor of Bulverde. Honorary pallbearers include Zimmerman, Peterson, Anderson and Clark, his football officiating team. A Celebration of Life services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2401 S 57th St, Temple, TX.

Tributes

Kenneth "Ken" Howard Taylor

March 25, 2023