Funeral services for Mr. Cecil Rex Taylor, age 88, of Carthage, TX, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Allen Tilley officiating. Interment will follow in Restland Memorial Park near Carthage. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Mr. Taylor passed away on Tuesday morning, Feb. 15, 2011, in Carthage.

Cecil Rex Taylor was born on Nov. 19, 1922, in the Paxton Community of Shelby County, TX to Henry Cecil and Sallie Coyle Taylor. He graduated from Joaquin High School. Mr. Taylor served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII and was honorably discharged on Nov. 4, 1945. He married Dessie Lee Settle on Jan. 24, 1946, in Center, TX and she preceded him in death on Dec. 1, 2007, after 61 years of marriage. Mr. Taylor worked for United Gas and Pennzoil for many years until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Carthage. Mr. Taylor was also preceded in death by two sisters, R.V. Crutchfield and Sara Shaver and one brother, Max Taylor.

Mr. Taylor is survived by two sons, Ronnie Taylor and wife Darlene of Spring and Randy Taylor and wife Kathy of Austin; five grandchildren, Lee Anne Taylor Sharpe and husband Patrick of Carthage, Kelly Taylor Simmons and husband Mike of Houston, Charlie Taylor and wife Jenna of East Bernard, Justin Taylor and wife Jessica of Dallas, and Brandon Taylor of Dallas; six great-grandchildren, Taylor, Kelsey, and Kolbey Sharpe, Pierce Randall Simmons, Canon Rex Taylor and Cailyn Ryce Taylor; and special caregiver, Ada Essery.

Serving as pallbearers are Brandon Taylor, Justin Taylor, Charlie Taylor, Patrick Sharpe, Mike Simmons, and Eddie Settle.

If desired, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3429 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78731-1626 or to First Baptist Church, Youth Ministries, 256 S. Market, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.