John Taylor

John Barney Taylor, lovingly known as JB passed away peacefully at his home on May 3, 2025, with his wife of 24 Years, Joyce, by his side.

He was born on February 28, 1940, the second son of Bill and Esther Taylor. His dad gave him the nickname Wicker, but JB stuck.

He grew up in Wright, Arkansas working on the farm with his dad and brothers, Billy, Jimmy Don and Robert and his sisters, Erlene, Mary Francis, Sis, Pat and Brenda. JB’s work ethic and his physical strength would develop where he would often outperform adults in the fields picking cotton. The strength he possessed when working the hardest jobs the farm had to offer were legend with his family and friends. JB would tell stories of waking in the predawn morning to do the various farm chores before breakfast then getting out to the fields at sunrise. He often reminisced about his mother standing on the back porch calling all of them out of the fields for dinner and the process repeating itself in the evening when it was time for supper.

He attended School at Plum Bayou, when his farm duties would allow, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Attending high school is where he would show his compassion in defending one of his closet friends that had become disabled. Known for letting him ride on his back so he could go places that he could not have accessed on his own.

One of the saddest moments in his life came at the age of 16 when his dad passed away on the day after Christmas. From that time on he was an avid nonsmoker.

The story of Bully Henry occurred during this time. As the name might give a clue, Bully was a bully, until he met with JB. Three punches by JB that gave him a broken jaw and broken ribs made the 21 year old Bully beg for mercy from a 17 year old kid.

One of the most important time of his life came when he fell for Wanda Lynch. He has shared with his children the many escapades of running her other boyfriends off and courting her. To his delight, she couldn’t resist his charms and became his wife on August 31, 1959. After a year in 1960 they started their family with their first child.

He worked various jobs until 1963, when he started work for Little Rock Truck and Trailer and finally gave up the farm life. There he advanced to management within a couple of years.

In 1967, at 27 years old he purchased his first home. In the same year and in 1969 they had two more children making it a family of five.

Sports was also part of his life. After going to work at Little Rock Truck and Trailer, the owner Paul Goad, who had played for the San Francisco Forty Niners, recommended him as a player. He declined their offer because of the low pay and no pay if he was injured. He pitched for fast ball church league in Rose City where that gained the attention of a major fast ball team that refused to play against his team. Not only could he pitch but he could also hit homeruns into the stratosphere.

He attended Razorback games at first as Service Manager taking customers to the games, but fell in love with going to the games when he experienced his sons happiness in going to the games together with him.

JB loved camping with his family of five along with his brothers and sisters and their families. Teaching his children how to swim, fish and ski the lakes of Arkansas brought great joy to him.

About 10 years after purchasing his home he decided to remodel his home, eventually almost doubling the square footage. The abilities he showed with his God given skills at plumbing, electrical, carpentry and even bricking the home without any experience was a remarkable achievement.

In August of 1987, he decided to use his years of managerial experience at LR Truck and Trailer to start a business of his own. Flanked by his 2 sons, Chuck and Tim, Taylors Truck and Trailer became a reality. Two years later He would purchase the assets and building of Little Rock Truck and Trailer bringing him back to the same shop he gave almost 30 years of his life to. Today, his legacy lives on with his sons carrying on the tradition.

Unfortunately, in 1994 his beloved Wanda was diagnosed with Cancer and in 1997 after supporting her through an extended illness she passed away. He then dedicated himself to the business as a way to grieve. He did give way from his grief, several years later, to his brothers where they got him out to meet with old friends. That’s where he reconnected with Joyce Stephens, his childhood friend from Plum Bayou. They enjoyed recalling childhood memories and spent their days enjoying life. So much so, they married on Oct 4, 2002 in a beautiful private ceremony in Eureka Springs Arkansas.

Soon after they married, they moved next door to his brother Bubba. The two brothers enjoyed working in their shop and gardening vegetables. We have cherished stories of their fun together.

While he always kept that excellent work ethic, it was time to slow down and enjoy the success of his business from the sidelines all the while guiding his sons. A couple years later Bubba and Lucy had both passed and he and Joyce purchased Bubba’s house, which he helped Bubba custom build in the 1970’s. This is where he enjoyed his final years with Joyce by his side, gardening and piddling in his personal shop. He loved having his friends, his family, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren visit him to enjoy his piece of Gods paradise.

JB Taylor was Loved by the many people he knew and helped and will be missed by all of us.

JB is the last of his brothers and sisters, father and mother to pass away, may the circle be unbroken.