James Randall “Randy” Taylor II

The service for James Randall “Randy” Taylor II is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Portland Avenue Baptist Church located at 1301 N. Portland Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73107.

James Randall Taylor II was born May 17^th, 1957 to James Randall and Mary Anne Taylor in Oklahoma City, OK.

He is preceded by:

His Parents James Randall Taylor and Mary Anne Spiva, and by his brother Greg Taylor.

His Maternal Grandparents Byrum and Edna Mae Spiva.

His Fraternal Grandparents Fred and Lucille Taylor.

His longtime best friend Ralph Foley and longtime friend Earl Stubblefield.

 

Randy is survived by:

His Wife Laura Bostick and Stepson Jeremiah Bostick.

Step Mother; Betty Taylor and Step Sister Dawn Taylor.

Daughter and Son-in-law Mandy and Steve Griffin, Grandsons Austin and Joshua Walker and Josh Griffin.

His Son and Daughter in law; Jimmy and Tiffany Taylor and Granddaughter Andrea Murphey.

His Brother; Nathan Taylor and niece Heather Taylor and nephew Mathew Taylor.

His Sister; Tammy Morris and niece Cathy Kubicek and husband Brent Kubicek and nephew Chris Wilhelm and wife Milissa Wilhelm.

Susan Nostrand, and neice Susan Taylor.

And many Uncles, Aunts, great nephews & nieces and cousins.

 

Randy grew up in OKC and attended Putnam City West High School. Randy’s first job was at United Engines on NW 10^th street. He learned a lot about engines while working there.   In 1974, Randy married Kelly Brown and they had 2 children Mandy Taylor Griffin and Jimmy Taylor. In 1974 he started as an apprentice plumber at Wayland Brown’s Plumbing Co. Randy later became a journeyman plumber. He became partners with Wayland Brown in 1980 and they opened Brown & Taylor Plumbing, Heat and Air in Warr Acres, Oklahoma. Randy worked there until 1998. He then went to work for the OKC Arts Council. After leaving the Arts Council he worked for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer as a pipefitter. In 2002 he married Laura Bostick. He also gained a Step Son Jeremiah. Randy and Laura later moved to Lake Eufaula to realize their dream of being at the lake. They just celebrated their 19^th anniversary. Randy had many hobbies and passions, his number one passion was racing. Early on he pitted for his Uncle Floyd Spiva Jr. in the modified #200 car and he pitted for his cousin Steve Spiva in the #201 car. His dream was to have his own car. His dreams came to reality when he built and drove the Red #93 Modified at State Fair Speedway in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  Randy’s first time ever to race, he was so excited, Randy went out to his first heat race and the flag man black flagged him. He had no idea why he was black flagged. They stopped the race and told him he was black flagged because he forgot to buckle his seat belts! They buckled him in and let him race! One of Randy’s most memorable times was when he was part of Shane Carson’s crew for 5 years. They won many races together. He also pitted for David Flatt Jr., Patrick Prescott, his nephew JW Schnorr, and James Shoun. Later he went on to be his Son, Jimmy Taylor’s crew chief for his sprint car #23. He was always there for Jimmy with advice and on how to drive. They won many Top Ten awards at State Fair Speedway, Lawton and Creek County and also 4 Top Ten Awards in the Sooner and National ASCS racing circuits. Randy was always very good at setting up a race car. He helped many friends over the years. Randy also loved to garden, and he got to use his gardening talents while working at The Arts Council with overseeing the Arts Festival and Opening Night. He loved having a vegetable garden and would work tirelessly and sometimes well in to the night tending his gardens. Randy also loved to fish, he had taken many trips to Canada with family members to fish for Pike Fish. He also loved his family cabin at Cedar Lake. His Grandpa Bryum and Grandma Edna Mae had bought a cabin at Cedar Lake in 1954 when the Lake opened. He spent many a weekend and many summers there growing up. Later he acquired his Uncle’s cabin which was right next to his Grandpa’s and Great Uncle’s cabin. Randy and his family spent many summers and weekends there and had many good times there fishing, riding motorcycles, 3 wheelers, and 4 wheelers and grilling out. He loved the time he got to spend there with his family and his brother Nathan and sister Tammy. Randy always wanted to get back to the water, he fulfilled that dream with Laura with their cabin at Lake Eufaula where they lived. He loved going out in his boat. He loved having his family there to share the good times with. He loved his kids Mandy and Jimmy deeply. He loved spending time & fishing with them and his grandsons, Austin and Josh Walker. He loved being with them at the races or at the lake. He loved riding his motorcycle with Laura, and they loved riding with their friends. Randy would never do anything without his wife Laura. They did everything together, including the simple things like eating dinner. She was his soul mate and he loved her dearly! Randy enjoyed staying busy doing the things he loved. His loved fishing, racing, and Nascar. He also had a huge passion for OU football, the OKC Thunder, Westbrook and for shoes of course! He had enough shoes to open his own shoe store! He loved being at the lake with his sister to fish and eat her wonderful food and preserves that he couldn’t get enough of. He had a blast going to football games with his brother Nathan and especially the Dallas Cowboys. Randy had many good years doing the things he loved. On Christmas Day 2015 Randy wasn’t feeling well and went to the ER and was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor. Randy and Laura moved to Mandy and Steve’s house in the city to be closer to his family and doctors. Although Randy’s health gradually declined this was precious time he got to spend with family. Randy fought a valiant fight until he went to be with the Lord. The family would like to extend their gratitude for all of the love, prayers and help from family and friends. We want to say a special thank you to Randy’s great friend Shane Carson. You were really there for Randy when he needed you. Also, we want to say thank you to Randy’s longtime best friend Rusty Schneeberger who came back right at the time Randy needed him the most. Rusty was always there to help in any way he could. Randy was a wonderful husband, father, brother, grandpa, uncle and friend! He is loved dearly by those who knew him and will be missed by all.