Thomas Gene Taylor, 82, passed away on Thursday, December 06, 2018 at residence. A visitation will be Saturday, December 8, 2018, from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home.

Gene was born June 15, 1936 in Monroe County, to the late Arnett and Alice Dorine Reedy Taylor. After high school he joined the United States Air Force, he served in many capacities throughout his 20 year Air Force career, he was primarily a Staff Sergeant and during the last 7.5 years of his career, he served with the joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Upon his retirement from the military he returned to the Columbus area where he owned and operated the 82 East Citgo. After closing the Citgo, he worked as Service Manager with Goodyear for 10 years. He was a Baptist by faith. He enjoyed fishing, racing Go-Karts and was an Avid Ole Miss Football Fan. He loved his family dearly, and had a passion for animals of all kinds, "If it was hungry, he fed it!" In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Catherine Taylor, a son Jay Arnett Taylor and one sister Mary Frances Robertson.

He is survived by his wife Betty Joyce Livingston Taylor; four sons Tommy (Nancy) Taylor, Gary (Anita) Taylor, Jim Rhodes and Danny (Sherri) Rhodes; 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.