Jesse Wayne Taylor
Jesse Wayne Taylor AKA “Big Guy & 28” (55) of Stuarts Draft, peacefully entered the kingdom of heaven on August 11, 2024. Jesse was born September 13, 1968, to his parents Ronald “Butch” and Mary Lee Buchanan Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Taylor, children Cody (Raven) Swisher and Taylor (Tyler) Wilcher, his father, Ronald “Butch” Taylor, sister, Nancy (Greg) Varner, mother-in-law, Bernice Noel, sister-in-law, Dana Bishop (Jamsie), nieces and nephews Taylor (Connor) & Hannah Varner, Matt Noel, Diedra Herring, grandchildren Colten and Langston, Uncle John “Dump” Buchanan, Aunts - Ruth “Turtle” (Timmy) Martin, Sissy and Sue Taylor, many cousins including Eddie Dameron and Ashley Payne, a very close family friend Chuck Anderson, a special friend he always considered as a brother, Steve Henderson, and the family pets – Maggie Mae and Pete.
Before diabetes affected Jesse’s ability to work in 2016, Jesse started working at Paul Obaugh Ford in high school, and then spent over 20 years making vinyl siding at Alcoa/Plygem/Cornerstone. During those years, he made many lasting relationships with many dear people on all shifts, but N1 was his home shift.
Jesse was so loved and well known in his community. He was a member of the Verona Moose Lodge and the Virginia Bear Hunters Association. He will be remembered for his bib overalls and his “gift of gab”, like his mom and aunt Turtle, because he loved to talk and never met a stranger. If he didn’t know you before the conversation, you would be best friends by the end of the conversation. Bear hunting was Jesse’s passion. When he wasn’t in the woods, he could be found on the porch with his dad or on his cell phone talking about the next chase, how to track the dogs, telling “bigger” stories than the next person, teaching the newbies how to find their way in the woods, planning the next run, and comparing whose dogs were better – plots or walkers.
Jesse loved spending time with his family, especially when everyone would go to camp at Tye River. Jesse enjoyed toying with his nieces Taylor and Hannah. He would always try to be 1 up on the hunting stories with Hannah and enjoyed taking his sweet ole’ time and never in a hurry when playing games with Taylor. He loved his bluegrass music, smoking meat on the grill, playing games on the front porch, and his sister’s sausage gravy breakfasts. Jesse also enjoyed his time tinkering in the shop with his Uncle Dump. Jesse loved being a parent to Cody and Taylor.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lee Buchanan Taylor and the family pet Abby. In his life, he had many “great dogs” such as Sarge, Airdale, Diesel, Betsy, Jenny, Heidi, Spank, Pokie and so many more.
The family would like to give a special thank you and wishes of gratitude to his nurse, Hannah, at Augusta Health ICU. Her kindness and attentiveness gave us the time we needed at the end.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Augusta Health Foundation - ICU Department or the American Diabetes Association.
The family will receive family and friends on Sunday, August 18th from 4pm-6pm at McDow Funeral Home 1701 W Main St Waynesboro, Va. There will be a Celebration of Life service on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 11am also at McDow Funeral Home. There will not be a public graveside service.
