Tommy Lee Taylor (88yr old) passed away unexpectedly on the evening of June 20, 2025, at his home in Ellisville, MS.

Mr. Taylor was born in Stonewall, MS on November 27, 1936, to Mrs. Willie Mae Taylor and Mr. Dupree Mason Taylor. He graduated from Gardner High School in Laurel, MS in 1954. Shortly after graduation, Mr. Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served for 8 years as a Boatswain's Mate Third Class on the USS Bowers destroyer escort. Mr. Taylor married his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Joyce Atkinson, on September 1, 1956. This year, they would celebrate 69 years of marriage. Together, they served the Jones and Jasper County communities in the grocery store business. Mr. Taylor worked as the manager of A&P and Jitney Jungle stores in Laurel, MS for approximately 30 years. Later he and Mrs. Taylor became the co-owners of R&T Grocery in Ellisville, MS. After several years, they purchased Taylor's Real Value in Heidelberg, MS where they worked until retirement.

Mr. Taylor had a love for the outdoors and hunting. He particularly loved deer hunting. His love and enjoyment for this sport carried into his retirement where he used his carpentry skills to begin building shooting houses. His shop became an assembly line of pallets and boards and screws with everything perfectly organized. He took care and pride in building his houses to last making sure every screw was perfectly aligned, and every crack was sealed. Each house received a special "Tommy Taylor" camouflage pattern: A design of a tree which he applied with spray paint and an artistic flair with his initials "TT" hidden within the branches. He became widely known throughout south MS and even into the neighboring states for his "custom built shooting houses" that were "built by a deer-hunter for a deer-hunter".

Mr. Taylor was always full of stories, particularly about the grocery store business. He loved to talk to everyone about his years working with A&P and Jitney Jungle. His eyes would light up with delight when he had an opportunity to tell the younger generation about these stores. He loved being in a grocery store and any outing that he was on always involved a trip down a store aisle.

Mr. Taylor has been a long-time member of County Line Baptist Church. He was a Christian man who loved God. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Mrs. Bobbie, and he loved her and his family with all his heart. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His stories, his words of wisdom, and his infamous "Tommy Taylor Look" will never be forgotten.

Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Mae Taylor and Mason Dupree Taylor, his daughter Pamela Lee Stroo and his son-in-law Jerry Stroo. He is survived by his wife Bobbie Taylor; his children Deidre (Anthony) Hoover, and Eric (Maureen) Taylor; and his grandchildren T.J. (LaSha) Stroo, Jessica Taylor, Patrick Taylor, and Jacob Taylor.

Private Graveside services will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery in Ovett, MS with burial to follow. T. J. Stroo will officiate. Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to County Line Baptist Church or New Hope Baptist Church.