Rondald Taylor

Published 3:36 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Ronnie Taylor, age 80, of the Hunter Community in Elizabethton, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 28, 2025, at Sycamore Springs Senior Living. Ronnie was born on Nov. 11, 1944, in Topeka, Kansas, to the late Fred and Cleola Taylor.

Ronnie was a lifelong learner as he served as an educator for 38 years with both Carter County Schools and Elizabethton City Schools. He was employed by Carter County Schools in 1966 upon graduating from King College. He was a teacher, basketball and baseball coach, and assistant principal for 11 years at Unaka High School. Ronnie then became the principal at Unaka Elementary School for 11 years. Later, he served as principal at Eastside Elementary for 14 years before becoming a supervisor and assistant director of Elizabethton City Schools for two years. Ronnie retired from his career in 2005 and was inducted into the Carter County Imagination Library Educators Hall of Fame in 2015. Ronnie was also inducted into the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Beyond his passion for education, Ronnie was a proud Tennessee Volunteers, Dallas Cowboys and Elizabethton Twins fan. He loved going to sporting events with his wife, family and friends. Ronnie enjoyed playing basketball in his youth and college days, coaching throughout his career, and watching the local Unaka High and Elizabethton High basketball games. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, playing golf with his friends, and supporting his daughters and grandchildren. He was a firm believer in making sure those he loved knew just how proud he was of them, for every little thing.

Those left to cherish his memories include his wife of 60 years, Marilyn Taylor, of Elizabethton; two daughters, Marsha (Dwayne) Taylor and April (Joe) Howard, all of Elizabethton; two grandchildren, Kirsten (Chance) Street, of Piney Flats, Tennessee, and Weston Taylor, of Johnson City, Tennessee; one great-grandchild, Colter Street, of Piney Flats, Tennessee; his sister, Leatha (Larry) Grindstaff, of Elizabethton, Tennessee; his brothers, Larry (Denise) Taylor, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Terry (Jan) Taylor, of Piney Flats, Tennessee; and his special family: Kim Burrow Howat, Joseph, Leslie, Kathryn and Emma Taylor, Judy Deloach, and Cynthia Taylor.

A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton with Pastor Tim Tapp and Pastor Chris Hughes officiating. Music will be under the direction of Chris Hughes and Tonya Hughes. The family will receive friends between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel prior to the service on Friday.

Ronnie will be laid to rest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in the Blevins Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Mike Cole, Harry Ford, Billy Rash, Jacob Rash, Chance Street, Dwayne Taylor, Joseph Taylor and Weston Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Howard, Wayne Hayes, Robert Blevins, Larry Burrow, Jim Hyder, Charles Peters, Dan Putland, Lemmie Taylor, Bill Cline, Richard Hodge, Cameron Hyder, Dean Robinson, Richard Hyder, Kent Williams, Bruce Gouge, Jimmy Ensor, Dois Sheffield, Kim Birchfield and the Dinos Legends Lunch Group.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregivers and therapists at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Ivy Hall Nursing Home, Sycamore Springs Senior Living, State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, Amedisys Therapy Services, Amedisys Hospice, Rev. Tim Tapp, Rev. Chris Hughes, and all his friends who came to visit him.

Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations in memory of Ronnie to the Carter County Imagination Library, 201 N. Sycamore St., Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the Taylor family. Office phone: (423) 542-2232.