Richard Cavitt Taylor III, 72, of Beaumont, died Thursday, October 24, 2013. He was born in Orange, Texas, to Mariella Covington Taylor and Hugh Isaac Taylor, on December 30, 1940.
As a child, he lived in many towns in Texas and in San Diego, California, with his parents and five siblings, before returning to Beaumont in 1957. This is where he met and married his French high school sweetheart of fifty-four years, Patti Nolan Taylor.
Richard began his career in Beaumont with White’s Auto stores. A promotion moved them west to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where their first child, Richard “Rick” Taylor IV was born. Another move to El Paso and they welcomed their second son, Mark. Richard took the next business move with White’s, and his family of four, to settle in Austin, Texas, where daughter, Lorri, joined the family, and where everlasting friendships and memories were forged.
In 1976, Richard opened his own business, The Sleep Shop, with six locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This is when his life-long love affair with mattresses began. After opening a successful location in Beaumont, Richard and Patti returned in 1983 to be closer to their family. Alongside his son and wife, he ran the business for thirty-five years. As a natural entrepreneur, this business brought him personal satisfaction, but not as much as art, basketball, football, community giving, and his pride and joy, his five grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Patti Nolan Taylor, of Lumberton; children, Richard “Rick” Taylor IV and his wife, Cathy, of Beaumont; Mark Taylor of Dallas; and Lorri Taylor Zummo and her husband, Greg, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Alexandra Taylor, Taylor Zummo, Chase Taylor, MaryEllen Zummo, and Nolan Taylor; sister, Mariella Taylor Hawley of Tomball; and brothers, Mike Taylor of Spring, and Reverend Stephen Taylor of Aberdeen, Scotland.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Denise Gootee; and brothers, Ike Taylor and Tim Taylor.
A gathering of Mr. Taylor’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 28, 2013, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
The family expresses heartfelt gratitude for the love and support of the caregivers, friends, family, and George Thomas, MD and the staff and Harbor Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southeast Texas Food Bank, 3845 South Martin Luther King Parkway, Beaumont, Texas 77705 or visit www.setxfoodbank.org.
