It is with great sadness that the family of Phillip Lee Taylor, 40, of Mountain City, Texas, announce that Taylor was killed Thursday, March 28, 2019 in a car accident.
Born in Webster, Texas on July 10, 1978 to parents Lee and Glennis Taylor, Taylor is best described as a “friend to everyone” and as having a significant impact on so many lives around him. Taylor was a dedicated father and friend whose passion for public safety, education and his community shone brightly in his career and his dedication to public service.
Taylor started his education in Hays CISD in first grade at Kyle Elementary. He continued through HCISD until graduation from Hays High in 1996 and attended Texas State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. Taylor was a proud Eagle Scout and was a member of the Kyle Volunteer Fire Department.
Taylor spent 20 years in public safety with Hays County, starting as a bailiff and later as a corrections officer with the Sheriff’s Office. Taylor attended the peace officer academy through the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and became a deputy in 2001. While at the Sheriff’s Office, he held a variety of roles, including supervising and managing crime prevention, community outreach and public information teams. Taylor also oversaw the School Resource Officer (SRO) program for three districts in Hays County, which made the transition to becoming Hays CISD’s first Director of Safety and Security seamless in 2018.
Taylor was serving his second term as the mayor of Mountain City. He was also a volunteer Emergency Management Specialist with the Hays County Office of Emergency Services.
Most of all, Taylor’s dedication was to his son Aiden, ‘little buddy’ as he referred to him. They filled their time together with sports, trips to the beach, their shared love of dogs and, most recently, learning to fly drones.
Taylor is survived by his parents Lee and Glennis Taylor of Mountain City, his son Aiden Taylor and Aiden’s mother Dawn Taylor of Kyle. He is also survived by his uncle and aunt, Ben and Angie Duncan of Buda, Kharley Bagley Smith and daughters KayDee and Adeline of Martindale, as well as many other family and friends.
Join friends and family in honoring Taylor’s memory – visitation from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday April 4 at Harrell Funeral Home in Kyle. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 5, at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center on Kohlers Crossing, followed by interment at San Marcos City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Phillip Lee Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund through Broadway Bank.
Visit www.Harrellfuneralhomes.com to share a fond memory, photograph, or condolence with Taylor’s family on his On-line memorial site.
