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Ronnie Taylor will always be remembered as an educator at heart as well as for his love for children. Taylor died Jan. 28 at the age of 80.

He had served as an educator in both the Carter County and Elizabethton school systems. Taylor knew the importance of an education. He played basketball as a student at Unaka High School, and from there went to King College on a scholarship. “Had it not been for the college scholarship, he might not have gotten to go to college,” said Marilynn, his wife.

Following his college graduation, Taylor became a teacher, a coach and an assistant teacher at Unaka High, where he served for 11 years.

Marilynn noted: “Ronnie was all about kids and education. He stressed to his teachers the need to love their students, to help them learn and point to their need of getting a good education. He wanted his students to achieve and succeed as adults.”

She said that Ronnie “wore a lot of hats” during his working years. He was both a basketball and baseball coach, a principal and teacher, and finished out his career as a supervisor and assistant director of Elizabethton City Schools. After his time as a teacher and principal at Unaka High, he served 14 years as principal at East Side Elementary School. During his time at East Side, two Tennessee governors visited the school on separate occasions – Govs. Ned McWherter and Don Sundquist.

Taylor worked hard at each of his jobs but was comfortable in the roles he served. However, his number one goal was to make sure the kids got a good education and knew they were loved.

A former student on the funeral home tribute page wrote: “Ronnie was my teacher and assistant principal in the early ’70s. He always had the kids at the center of everything he did. I was blessed to know Ronnie.” This student went on to become a minister of the gospel.

Another former student, Dr. Bettina Chrica, credits Taylor with inspiring her to become a teacher. “He sure made school fun! So much that I was inspired to become a teacher myself…”

Taylor’s achievements did not go unnoticed by the community as he was inducted into the Carter County Imagination Library Educators Hall of Fame in 2015 and into the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

His wife noted that Ronnie’s love for sports brought him much joy. “He enjoyed watching Unaka High and Elizabethton. He was also a proud Tennessee Vols fan as well as enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys and Elizabethton Twins play ball.”

She noted that Ronnie also served on the volunteer board at Ballad Health and was a TSSAA official for softball and basketball games.

“Ronnie was all about kids, and he wanted every kid to succeed,” said Marilynn.

Taylor was a member of Unaka Baptist Church but in recent years had attended Lynn Valley Baptist Church.

During his spare time, Taylor enjoyed playing golf and had traveled to 48 states.

“Ronnie enjoyed being involved with the kids at every school he taught at. He usually was there to help the kids get on and off the bus and out of cars. He loved all his students and often referred to them as ‘his kids,’” shared Marilynn.

Ronnie spent his last years either at Ivy Hall or Sycamore Springs Memory Center.

He was the father of two daughters, Marsha Taylor and April Howard, both of whom are educators.

The greatest tribute a teacher can receive often comes from a former student, and Ronnie Taylor received many of those tributes. Tony Hardin, a former student, wrote on the funeral home tribute page: “I was honored to call him a friend. In every role that I had the privilege to share with Mr. Taylor, he always was a first-class person. His influence will last forever in many of those who, like me, enjoyed the privilege to know him. I am honored to have shared some chapters in my life with a man who was a great example.”

Hardin also noted that his sister, Sherry, who taught at Unaka when Taylor was principal, suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. “She often needed help doing small tasks, and Mr. Taylor always treated her with respect and was extremely kind during her difficult times.”

Ronnie Taylor’s life is over, but so many remember his kindness, his love and his professionalism while he lived and served on this earth – the things that really matter.