Mr. Sammie Howard Taylor

Mr. Sammie Howard Taylor was called to Eternal Life from home Thursday June 26, 2008. He was born May 14, 1945 in Paducah Kentucky, the son of Sammie E. Taylor and Frankie M. Howard-Rhea. He moved to Kalamazoo Michigan in 1956 where he later met and married the love of his life, Patricia (Pat). Sammie was the proud father of Brian Keith and Kevin Lamar. With the union of his beautiful wife Patricia, they proudly shared his one and only daughter, Dawn Marie (Douglas Leonard Essix, Sr.), and four sons, Sean Rhea and Christopher Edward, Michael Aaron and Andre Phillip. Sammie attended and graduated from the Kalamazoo Public School system and received other special vocational training to succeed in his field of endeavor. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army after serving in Germany. He was employed as a Quality Control Engineer for Checker Motors for over 30 years where his skills were highly recognized. A dedicated and faithful Christian, Sammie was an active member of Bethel Star Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Samuel Baker. Some of the positions held by Sammie were Deacon, Chairman of Trustee Board, Sunday School Teacher and Praise Team Leader. He was greatly admired and respected by Pastor(s) and congregation(s) members. Sammie was always studying and sharing God's Word. He was a man of great faith. He lived and breathed the scriptures he believed in. Sammie was greatly respected for his leadership abilities, motivational skills and supportive nature. He found the good in all he met and was always a gracious host. His family was the most important part of his life. A great father and husband, Sammie was full of love of family and spent all his time making his family and friends happy. He was always the family photographer. He especially loved his Mother who raised him to become the great man he was. She stood beside him through the illness of both he and his wife. Mother Rhea has been a nurse, friend, confidant, caregiver and never ending nurturer of faith. She has prayed with him, sang to him, read the word with and to him, encouraged him and saw him through the good times and the challenges of life until his last breath. She has gone over and above the duty of a mother in every way. She has shown love and compassion in every way possible as only a mother could. A special tribute goes to a friend and brother, Elder Michael Holland; Missionary Catherine White and Missionary Mary Carver who all comforted, cared and prayed for him, stood by his side until the Lord called him home. Sammie was preceded in death by his wife Pat, two sons, Sean Rhea and Christopher Edward; and 2 brothers, Willie T. Taylor and Fred Taylor. He leaves to mourn his mother, Frankie Rhea; father, Sammie E. Taylor (Dorothy); daughter, Dawn Marie (Douglas Leonard Essix, Sr.), 4 sons, Brian Keith of Seattle, WA, Kevin Lamar (Annie), of Indianapolis, IN; Michael Aaron and Andre Phillip of Kalamazoo MI; 4 sisters, Vanessa Knight (Bennie) and Denise Marshall of Paducah KY; Gloria Jean Colvin of IN; Karen Hampton, of Holland MI; 5 brothers, Jonathan Rhea of Houston TX, David Taylor and Mark Taylor (Jaimie) of Paducah KY, Charles Rhea and Terrance Rhea of Kalamazoo MI; 10 grandchildren; special sister-in-law, Fern Taylor and numerous sisters and brothers-in law; special Mothers and friends will cherish and miss him dearly; Pastor and Mrs. Samuel Baker, Pastor and Mrs. Hermon Phillips, Supt. and Mrs. C. G. Charles and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, church family and friends will always remember his great presence.

Mr. Sammie Howard Taylor

May 14, 1945 - June 26, 2008