Tommy Leroy Taylor, of Hitchcock, Texas, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026, in League City, Texas, at the age of 78 after an extended illness which he fought courageously, defiantly, and valiantly. Tommy was born on December 1, 1947, in Kingsville, TX, to Leroy and Helen Taylor, and grew up in Kingsville, then Victoria, then back to Kingsville in high school to live with his grandparents and help his Grandad farm and ranch, and only left the tractor running in the field once, after being lured away by friends to drink a few beers.

Tommy, the man, was an enigma: the life of the party that everyone wanted to befriend, but who drew a small circle around himself, and only let a small number of family, friends, and acquaintances inside the inner circle to get to know him deeply. (“I like so-and-so, but it doesn’t mean I want them at my house!”)

He was a self-made man, interested in a wide variety of hobbies and sports, with each new activity challenging himself to perfect it. He was a lifelong boater and fisherman, and game hunter, most notably of deer, dove, and quail. He also made a game out of eluding South Texas Game Wardens, sort of a Coyote and Roadrunner situation. He picked up the game of chess in his 30s and played until he could beat the computer. In his late 40s, he was working in Pennsylvania and, in the manner of “when in Rome”, tried his hand at bow-hunting, as was popular in PA, and got pretty good at it. In his 50s, he decided that he and Patrice would take up golf. His motto was, “My game will never fail because of the equipment,” meaning he researched and bought the best set of clubs, balls, putters, and golf bags that were available. The same penchant for fine equipment happened with rods and reels and rifles and pistols. In his 60s, he finally had achieved enough success that he could afford a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and he bought his first one in Syracuse, NY, when he was working in Watertown, NY. Patrice prevailed upon him to return it, saying, “We’re not those people.” He retorted that he wasn’t going to return it and for her to fly up and try it. Well, a trip to the Harley store, and some blingy leathers as a costume, and she was convinced and gave her blessing. Thereafter followed weekend trips on the Harley, 5 rides to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the Sturgis Rally, and lots of miles riding with our Harley Ridin’ buddies, Carrie and Mark Lee. Several Harleys were acquired over time, and the Boulevard Bike was replaced by a Cruiser for comfortable long trips, and cruisers gave way to a HD Trike in retirement, adapting the equipment to aging bodies. Still trying new things in his 70s, he started acquiring drones, recognizing that he had to adopt new ways to enjoy the things he loved to do as the body aged, purchasing “age-appropriate toys” to allow him to keep doing what he loved, but in a different way. The thought behind the drone was to fly it out over the Gulf to drop bait over the 2nd sand bar, as wading/swimming out at his age was no longer desirable. Still in his 70s, he started “Tommy’s Regripping and Club Alteration Shop”. After reading and watching a number of videos, he was ready to revamp his own and Patrice’s clubs to better serve aging hands and bodies.

He chose Pipefitting as his life work, perfect for him because of his gifted math ability, and over time was acknowledged by his peers as an on-the-job trained Engineer. (But forget research papers and writing essays – definitely not his thing). He was invited to be a member of Pipe Fitters Local 211 in his 30s, and took advantage of that association by working locally, and then traveling “on his book” to the Western United States. Never one for routine, even charting different ways to and from the job, he enjoyed working in different locales across the UNITED STATES, learning new cities, and new routes, and visited 47 of the 50 States in his work and pleasure travels lacking only three East Coast states to complete his bucket list: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. He completed his work life in Construction Management, working across the US at military bases directing crews in the building of jet fuel systems, refurbishing storage tanks, pouring concrete, and other civil engineering tasks. Along with Construction Management, Tommy dabbled in farming and ranching, auto mechanics, and general handyman tasks.

At the age of 24, Tommy predicted he would die young because his family “doesn’t live long lives.” When he had his 1st heart attack at age 40, it seemed his prediction might be accurate. A two-pack-a-day man, he quit a 26-year smoking habit that very day. At age 50, he experienced his 2nd heart attack that led to a triple bypass, further strengthening his prediction. At 68, on a warm summer day, he decided to improve his chances of life by ending his 50+ year beer-drinking habit cold turkey and never had another drop of alcohol. A few years later, after some warning blood work numbers, he quit 3 tsp of sugar in his coffee to ward off diabetes, and still looking to improve his health, at age 74, he quit his two-pots-a-day coffee ritual. Again, cold turkey. All these broken behaviors contributed to Tommy outliving his loved ones that had preceded him in death, as he enjoyed more than 78 years of life in total. But his body began to falter in the summer of 2025 with numerous systems failing. In November of 2025, with no religious affiliation throughout his life, and during a bleeding episode in the CCU, Patrice performed an emergency Baptism as he acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and Savior, giving himself a chance of eternal life. In the following months, he wore both the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, and a bracelet of St Benedict, the Patron Saint of Kidneys. These items will remain with him in eternity.

Tommy was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Grandad Will Dee and Grannie Minnie Pearl Trant Taylor; his parents, Dad Leroy Kenneth and Mom Helen Ruth Nielsen Taylor; his paternal uncle, Woodie Aubrey Taylor; maternal grandparents, Simon Peter and Irma Ruth Barr Nielson; a maternal uncle, John Christian, and a maternal cousin, Niel Christian.

Tommy is survived by his spouse of 52 years, Patrice Elizabeth Eicher Taylor; daughters Kimberley S Roy (Boog), New Caney, TX; Carrie E Lee (Mark), Texas Grand Ranch, TX; Christen T Cook (Sam), Big Lake, MN; (6) grandchildren Taylor C Bauer, Boerne, TX; Lindsey R Brown (Eric), Texarkana, AR; Cameron B Cody, Waxahachie, TX; Caitlyn T, Coryn R, and Caden J Cook, all of Big Lake, MN; (3) great-grandchildren Norah A Roy and Henry A Bauer, Boerne, TX; and Bryce D Cody, Waxahachie, TX. Tommy’s surviving siblings are Beverly T Hutto, Baytown, TX; Jean M Lester, Dickinson, TX, and Merrell D Taylor (Michelle), League City, TX. Further, Tommy is survived by maternal aunt Norma Christian, and maternal cousin, Caren C Krupala (Frank), all of Raymondville, TX, as well as his lifelong friends Jim A Geary, Santa Fe, TX, and Jimmy D Nix, Kingsville, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews. Finally, Tommy is survived by his Sheepadoodle companions, Jack The Tripper, and Ollie Ollie Oxen Free.

The Family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 6,2026 from 4-7:00pm with a Rosary at 6 o’clock at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main, League City, Texas 77573. A Mass will follow on Thursday at 10:30am at St. Mary of the Expectation Catholic Church, 1612 East Walker, League City, Texas 77573 with Father John Rooney presiding. Interment to follow at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson, Texas.

The family invites you to join them for lunch at Red River Bar-B-Que & Grill, 1911 E Main St Suite B, League City, TX 77573 immediately following internment.

Tommy’s family extends their thanks to the staff of CVICU, and Floors 4 and 5 at HCA CL Heart Tower for excellent acute care; also thanks to Ignite Medical Resort-Webster, The Heights of League City, US Renal Care Friendswood, and Fresenius Kidney Care Texas Ave for providing care for Tommy as he convalesced, and finally to all his physicians.

Please consider an “In Memory of Tommy L Taylor” donation to The Renal Support Network at http://Rsnhope.org. Send notification of donation to petaylor911@msn.com.

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.