Oliver Louis Taylor

ASHEVILLE - OLIVER LOUIS TAYLOR, 83, OF 44 BRADDOCK WAY DIED THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2001 AT GREEN TREE RIDGE NURSING HOME. HE WAS BORN IN ASHEVILLE ON JULY 17, 1917 AND WAS THE SON OF THE LATE CLARENCE LELAND TAYLOR, SR. AND BERTHA KATHERINE MEECE TAYLOR. HE WAS RETIRED AS MANAGER FOR SMILE OIL COMPANY AND WAS A GRADUATE OF BILTMORE HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS A MEMBER OF BILTMORE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE ASHEVILLE RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB FOR MANY YEARS AS AN OUTSTANDING MARKSMAN. HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS WIFE HARRIET ALLEN TAYLOR WHO DIED IN 1971 AND A BROTHER, CLARENCE LELAND TAYLOR, JR. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE BEST BASS FIDDLE PLAYERS IN THE REGION. FOR OVER 40 YEARS HE PLAYED WITH THE BEAR CREEK RAMBLERS. THE BAND ENGAGEMENTS TOOK THEM TO NEW YORK AND TO PLAY FOR MANY GATHERINGS FOR THE U.S. CONGRESSMEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HE ALSO PLAYED BASS WITH THE MEMORIES BAND AND THE YODELING RAMBLERS. HE WON THE TOP AWARD FOR BEST BASS PLAYER AT THE MOUNTAIN FOLK FESTIVAL IN 1992 AND 1993. HE TRAVELED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL MUSICIANS TO SIDMOUTH, ENGLAND TO REPRESENT THIS AREA IN THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL IN THE 1970S. HE AND HIS BASS, NAMED MYRTLE, WERE FAVORITES. HE WAS INVITED TO TRAVEL AND PLAY WITH BILL MONROE AND HIS BLUEGRASS BOYS, BUT DECLINED IN ORDER TO STAY WITH HIS FAMILY. HE IS SURVIVED BY A DAUGHTER, ANN TAYLOR ANDRUS OF CHARLESTON AND SUMMERVILLE, SC; SON, JAMES LOUIS TAYLOR OF ASHEVILLE; GRANDDAUGHTER, KATHERINE ANDRUS PACE, C.P.A. OF ORLANDO, FL; GRANDSON C. FRED T. ANDRUS, PH.D. OF ATHENS, GA AND TWO GREAT GRANDSONS OF ORLANDO, FL. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 3:30 P.M. SUNDAY IN ANDERS-RICE FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL WITH THE REV.. ASHLEY CROWDER STANLEY OFFICIATING. BURIAL WILL BE IN CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH CEMETERY. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS 7 TO 9:00 P.M. SATURDAY AT THE FUNERAL HOME AND AT OTHER TIMES WILL BE AT MR. TAYLORS RESIDENCE.