of Marshall, AR

July 8, 1935 - December 7, 2020

Dois Taylor of Marshall, Arkansas passed away peacefully on Monday, December 7th, 2020 at University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 85, surrounded by family. He was born in Snowball, Arkansas on July 8th, 1935 to Olas and Peggy Taylor.

Dois began playing guitar at a young age and was part of a band that had a weekly radio program when he was in high school. After graduating from Marshall High School, he attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville where he played basketball and earned a degree in education. There he met and married the love of his life, Shirley Ross. He continued to work towards a master's degree in the summers as he worked as the Superintendent of Pottsville schools and, later, as a high school math and science teacher in Russellville. He and Shirley had three children while living in Arkansas, Karen, Marty, and Phillip. In 1969, Dois was offered a job in Dallas at Vought Aerospace as an engineer. He continued to play guitar in a band and had a regular Saturday night gig at the NCO Club at Naval Air Station Dallas. He later helped design and was a liaison engineer for the B1 Stealth Bomber. He retired in 1995 and he and Shirley moved to Hideaway Lakes Club in Lindale, Texas, where he enjoyed playing bridge, golf, and making music. They were members of the Lakeside Class at Hideaway Church, where Dois played bass guitar in the church band. Dois joined a band in Mineola, Texas where he had the opportunity to play alongside Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves. After 20 years at Hideaway, Dois and Shirley returned to Snowball, and built a house on land that bordered the farm where Dois grew up. There he raised goats, chickens, and a Great Pyrenees named Guy and a donkey named Ginger. He also kept a large garden and, of course, continued making music with a younger generation of musicians in Searcy County. In addition to playing regularly at the Veterans Hall and Fairfield Bay, Dois hosted a weekly jam session at their home on Tuesday nights. Dois was active in the Witt Springs Community Church, where he taught Sunday school and played guitar. Dois studied the Bible daily, and developed a deep faith in the Lord, who apparently needed a good bass guitarist in Heaven.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Ross Taylor of the home; his children, Karen Brakebill of Williamsburg, VA, Marty Taylor of Snowball and Phillip Taylor of Houston, TX; seven grandchildren, Ashley Picard, Daniel Taylor, Lauren Taylor, Alex Phillips, Peter Phillips and Hannah Taylor; six great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; son-in-law, David Brakebill; and daughter-in-law, Jill Taylor.

Funeral services for Dois will be 2:00 PM Saturday, December 12th, 2020 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Jim Arnold Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Snowball Cemetery where Dois will be laid to rest with his parents, Olas and Peggy Taylor. Bearers will be Phillip Taylor, Marty Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Cameron Taylor, Carmen Caprio and Don Saucier. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Salvation Army.

Roller-Coffman Funeral Home is complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines for COVID-19 and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance to 50 people at one time. We are practicing social distancing and have limited seating. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
923 Highway 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com