Rex Payne Taylor

Rex Payne Taylor, 93, of Lumberton, passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025. He was born on December 15, 1931, in Shelby County to Amy Audrey Head Taylor and William Myles Taylor.

Rex proudly served in the United States Army from October 1952 to October 1954 as a member of the 1st Armored Division. In 1953, he graduated from the U.S. Army Finance School in Indiana and went on to serve as a Payroll and Disbursement Specialist. His finance training in the military laid the foundation for a lifelong career in banking and executive operations management. Over the years, he worked with First Security National Bank in Beaumont, Texas; First National Bank of Dallas in Dallas, Texas; and Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina. He retired in 1996.

Rex was a lifelong sports enthusiast with a love for basketball, fishing, and travel. As a student at French High School in Beaumont, he played varsity basketball for the Buffaloes. In his senior year, 1950, his team reached the State Championship Finals—an experience he cherished, especially sharing it with his lifelong best friend, Bobby Riggs.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann Taylor, of Lumberton; his children, David Taylor and Kellie McGee, both of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Virginia Taylor of Kalispell, Montana; grandchildren, Abby Reedy and her husband, Shawn, of Cumming, Georgia; Bethany Luzzo and her husband, Nick, of Idaho; and Allison Poole and her husband, Garrett, of New Braunfels. He was a proud great-grandfather to Jackson Reedy, Lucas Rex Reedy, Conner Harris, Stephen Harris, Mathias Luzzo, Leiani Luzzo, Stetson Poole, and Scarlett Poole. He is also survived by his sister, Jacqueline Hardgrave, of Houston.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jimmy Taylor.

A gathering of Mr. Taylor’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 30, 2025, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. Interment will follow at Hardin Memorial Park, Silsbee.