Michael Taylor Sr.

Memorial services for Michael Taylor Sr., 72, of Ash Flat, Arkansas, who passed away January 7, 2022 at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Arkansas, will be Tuesday, January 11, in the chapel of Tri-County Funeral Home at Highland. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with respectful firefighter honors to start at 2. Mike retired as Chief of the Cherokee Village Fire Department in 2013 after 36 years of service (1977-2013). He was a highly esteemed civil servant who graduated from Elaine, Arkansas High School in 1966 and served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1977. Mike helped many young people as Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts of America and taught youth hunter education classes for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. He worked with the Ash Flat Volunteer Fire Department and was an instructor for Black River Technical College firefighter training classes. He was instrumental in establishing several area fire departments and quietly enjoyed seeing their success. Michael was born November 6, 1949 in Monette, Arkansas to Virgil Marlin and Lula Vaughn (Slayton) Taylor. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jerry Taylor; a sister, Kathy Gore; and his first wife, Rebecca Taylor. Survivors include his wife, Debbie of the home; a son, Michael Taylor Jr. (Holly); a daughter, Michelle Taylor; step-children: Wayne Hill (Brooke) and Fran Glass; sisters, Rhonda Taylor and Carol Barton; grandchildren: Layne (Justin), Linsey, Derek, Destiny, Bailee, and Waylon; many other relatives, a host of former co-workers, and numerous great friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the state or national Firefighters Memorial Fund in the name of Michael E. Taylor Sr. Use Google for addresses or methods of support. Arrangements are with Tri-County Funeral Home of Highland, Arkansas.