James Kenneth Taylor

James Kenneth “Ken” Taylor, age 97, of Denver, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, a mere 35 days before his 98th birthday. Ken was a beloved husband, friend, uncle, great uncle, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and will be missed by all who knew him.

Ken was born on Christmas Day, 1927 to the late Lila Kelley Taylor and James E. Taylor in Anderson, South Carolina. He attended Anderson County Public Schools where met the love of his life, Barbara Orr. He served his country in the United States Army in World War II where he was honorably discharged at the rank of Technical Fourth Grade. Upon returning to civilian life, Ken received a degree from Anderson College (now Anderson University). Ken and Barbara married on September 3, 1949, and welcomed their daughter, Jane, on March 28, 1956.

Ken served a 35-year long career at Duke Power (now Duke Energy), where he retired in 1984 as a central division manager. He took advantage of his 40-year retirement to experience the best of life, enjoying golfing; dancing; spending time with his family; and being Papa to his grandsons, Christian and Matt, and his great granddaughter, Maeve. He was a charter member of Cowan’s Ford Country Club, where he [claimed] to have shot a 67 and two holes in one. Ken decidedly did not enjoy watching the Clemson Tigers and the Carolina Panthers play football, but he tuned in every Saturday and Sunday all the same.

Ken was a devout Baptist, and through the years was a deacon and charter member of Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, and a deacon and active member of First Baptist Charlotte and Lake Norman Baptist Church.

Ken is survived by his daughter, Jane Taylor of Denver, North Carolina; his grandchildren Christian James Taylor (Brandi Tilley), of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Matthew Kenneth Taylor (Emily) of Charlotte, North Carolina; and his great granddaughters, Maeve James Taylor and her unborn younger sister. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara Orr Taylor, and his siblings B.J. “Bill” Taylor and Betty Taylor Rada.

A visitation will be held at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Huntersville, North Carolina on November 23, 2025, at 2:00-4:00 p.m., and a graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Anderson, South Carolina, on November 24, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ken’s memory to First Tee - Greater Charlotte (https://firstteegreatercharlotte.org).