Jeff Taylor – Chattanoogan.com

Jeff Taylor, 63, of Knoxville, died at home on June 27, 2024, after a brief illness. Jeff was a fun-loving, kind soul with a smile and laugh that were contagious. He had a gift for instantly connecting with people and worked to continue to nurture those relationships. His cousin Julie Trejo put it best, “The world is so small when you knew Jeff Taylor.”

Jeff was a proud and dedicated graduate of Jacksonville State University, which his parents and Aunt Ellie also attended. He earned a scholarship to track and field and remained a lifelong active member of the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Jeff worked in operations and sales, but his favorite role was as football and track coach. He loved boating, fishing, college sports, music (especially Yacht Rock), appearing in his daughter Erika’s TikTok videos, and spending time with Stephanie, Erika, and their Labradoodles.
Jeff was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Elizabeth Emberson of Ringgold, GA and Os and Estelle Taylor of Douglasville, GA.

Jeff leaves behind a legacy of love: his wife of 28 years, Stephanie; his daughter, Erika; his parents, Norman and Elaine Taylor of Chattanooga; his sister, Amy Taylor of Ringgold; his niece, Megan Glisson (Andy) of Ringgold; his nephew, James Gaither of Chattanooga; his great-niece, Lilly Glisson and great-nephew, Sam Glisson; his favorite aunt, Eleanor Williamson (Darrell) of Commerce, Georgia; his beloved cousins; his cherished friends; his fraternity brothers; and his precious pets, Chevy and Stella.

The family will celebrate Jeff’s life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, at Calhoun’s on The River (400 Neyland Drive, Knoxville). Attendees are asked to wear Jacksonville State (or their favorite college team) apparel or the color red.

The family would like to thank Jeff’s healthcare teams at TN Cancer Specialists and the UTMC Cancer Institute. A very special thank you to Dr. Monica Crane and her team at Genesis Neuroscience Clinic for their care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jeff’s honor to the Tennessee Memory Disorders Foundation at tmdf.org. The foundation supports clinical research and internship programs at the Genesis Neuroscience Clinic, as well as fellowship programs for medical students.