DEEP RUN – Edmond "Ed" Ray Taylor, 87, of Deep Run, passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife Hazel Taylor, parents William and Lola Taylor and three sisters Lyndall F. Chesnut, Lois Williams and Oleta Pearl Taylor. Ed was born on October 23, 1926. Growing up, he loved playing practical jokes on his siblings and friends. He was a fun loving adventurous young man. He left high school early in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 to serve his country. He enjoyed traveling the world while enlisted. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He later came back home and graduated from Chocowinity High School with the Class of 1947. He then went on to study radio telecommunications in Chicago, Illinois and settled into a 43 year career with Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company. He was a member of Spilman Memorial Baptist Church in Kinston, a past member of the American Legion and a member of the Tin Can Sailors. Ed was an honest, hardworking, reliable man who was known by all as someone you could always count on to get the job done and help in any situation. He always loved to stay busy. He loved fishing, boating, gardening and spending time at the beach, but his favorite thing was just being with family. In his last years, he enjoyed spending time at the Minges Wellness Center and at Daybreak Adult Day Services. The last five months of his life were spent at Woodland Terrace Senior Living Facility in Cary, NC where he received exceptional care. His caregivers there described him as a sweet, gentle man with a wonderful twinkle in his eye. Even in his last days, he was still showing signs of his humorous personality by making funny faces at loved ones. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend and is already so missed by all who love him. Survivors include four daughters, Teresa Taylor Sutton and husband Kenny of Kinston, Tamara Taylor Lapsley and husband Ben of Cary, NC, Tracie Taylor Cheseldine and husband Jay of Carolina Shores, NC, Tonya Taylor Cooper of Burlington, NC; two sisters, Shelby Jean Barrow of Carlton, Michigan, Jessi Britton of Greenbelt, Maryland; Eight grandchildren Jared Sutton and wife Nikki, Leah Sutton Oglesby and husband Mike, Jacob Sutton, Taylor Lapsley, Hope Lapsley, Kate Cooper, Kacey Cooper and David Cooper. A special thanks to Cora Mattocks and staff at Daybreak Adult Day Services, and to the staff at Woodland Terrace Senior Living Facility. Visitation will be at Howard-Carter Funeral Home Monday, December 2, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Howard-Carter Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 with Rev. Allen Ham and Cliff Britton officiating. Burial will follow the service at Pinelawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Daybreak Adult Day Services, 517 N Queen St, Kinston, NC 28501 and Spilman Memorial Baptist Church, 601 Madison Ave, Kinston, NC 28501. Sign the guest book at Kinston.com. (Paid obituary)