Jack Thomas Taylor's Obituary
Jack Thomas Taylor of Easton, Maryland passed away on December 24, 2023. Born on September 22, 1936 in Salisbury, Maryland, Jack was the son of Ralph and Grace Taylor. Jack was raised in Cokesbury, Maryland, a very close knit community with a two room schoolhouse, Methodist church and his family's general store.
After graduating from Washington High School in Princess Anne in 1955, Jack enlisted in the Navy. He served four years with the last two stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Shirley Simpkins. Jack would fondly tell the story of moving from the small schoolhouse in the 6th grade to the "big city" school in Princess Anne. This is when he first met Shirley and proclaimed that she was the girl he was going to marry. According to Jack she wanted nothing to do with the "country boy" until he won her over their junior year.
After the Navy Jack took a job as a District Game Warden with the Maryland Game and Inland Fish Commission and was posted in Somerset County. Jack and Shirley made their home in Mt Vernon until 1976 when they moved to Easton. Jack had several well-earned promotions within the now Natural Resources Police and retired in July 1992 as Superintendent.
In his retirement Jack enjoyed golf, working in his wood shop, traveling with Shirley and spending time in their cabin in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Jack was a member of Manokin Lodge # 106 AF/AM, life member and past president of Maryland Chiefs of Police 1986-1987 and served on many committees at both the local and state level with regards to law enforcement and conservation.
Jack is survived by his three children Ralph Douglas and wife Michele, Tracy Lednum and husband Mark and Leslie Steen and husband Troy. Also six grandchildren and their families whom he loved dearly. Alexa Taylor (Justin), Stephen Lednum (Kaitlin), Amie Sharp (Wade), Callie Taylor (Jesse), Ashby Steen and Brodie Steen and his eight great grandchildren Hunter, Paisley, Lily, Beau, Hudson, Jack, Cora and Mason.
Jack considered himself truly blessed when Shirley's family became his. Shirley's sisters Nancy Stade and Kathy Beauchamp were like his own. He is predeceased by JD Simpkins, Shirley's brother.
Following Shirley's death in 2012 he met and married Frances Elliott in 2015. She provided a welcome companionship these last eight years.
A visitation will be held at Framptom Funeral Home-Ostrowski Chapel 312 S. Talbot Street in St. Michaels on Saturday December 30,2023 from 10:00 to 12:00, followed
by burial at Asbury Methodist Church in Mt Vernon at 3:00. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Talbot Hospice Foundation 586 Cynwood Dr Easton MD 21601 or the Asbury Methodist Church 13263 Renshaw Rd Princess Anne MD 21853.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Framptom Funeral Home- Ostrowski Chapel, St. Michaels, and the Hinman Funeral Home of Princess Anne, MD.
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