Simon Willie Taylor
Simon Willie Taylor, age 86, of Strunk, Kentucky passed away Friday, November 7, 2025 at Jean Waddle Care Center in Somerset, Kentucky. He was placed in the care of the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 14, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Hayes Creek Church of God. Burial will follow funeral services at the East Pine Knot Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends after 11:00 am Friday at the church.
Simon was born June 12, 1939 in Strunk, Kentucky to Lewis Andrew Taylor and Lavada Baird Taylor. Simon was a Deacon at Hayes Creek Church of God for many years, having attended that church since he was a boy.
Simon met his dear wife Betty in 1954 at a school Christmas play at Pine Knot High School when she was 13 years old and he was 15. They were sweethearts throughout high school and married in 1960. While he had several occupations throughout his life, including being a small business owner of Taylor Grocery, a Store Manager for Kroger Company, and a Foreman for Shamrock Coal Company, his real passion was farming. Nothing made Simon happier than watching his cattle graze down the valley of his farm. Simon spent several decades of his life tending to his land and raising cattle. He deeply loved his family and was a man of God, believing in the teachings of Jesus Christ with love and compassion for his neighbors. Simon was a hardworking, honest man who was a valued confidant in his community. He enjoyed playing the guitar and singing at church and adored his church family. He also enjoyed playing with his grandkids, hunting, listening to bluegrass and gospel music, raising and training dogs, and studying the Bible.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his son, Gregory Taylor, his brothers, Lewis Taylor, Jr. and Kelsie Taylor, and his sister, Nelma Taylor Perkins.
Simon’s surviving family include his loving wife, Betty Wright Taylor, his daughters, Tammy Taylor Famouri (her husband, Dr. Parviz Famouri), Michelle Taylor Nevels, and Jennifer Taylor Mattis (her husband, Jason Mattis), and his sister, Freda Taylor Strunk. Simon has eight grandchildren, Dr. Leila Famouri, Farah Famouri, Jonathan Taylor, Joshua Taylor, Zachary Taylor, Emily Morgan, Meghan Blanning, and Elisabeth (Betty) Mattis. Simon has one great grandchild, Simon Morgan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Simon Taylor to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. https://www.alzinfo.org/donate/donation_form/
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home is honored to service the family of Simon W. Taylor.
