Fredrick Blake "Fred" Taylor

Mr. Fredrick Blake “Fred” Taylor, age 70, of Rome, GA, passed away Monday morning, December 13, 2021.

Fred was born in Pontiac, MI, on March 31, 1951, son of the late Maurice Manning Taylor, Sr. and Madeline Ruth Small Taylor. He grew up in Ellsworth, a small town of approximately 380 people, located in Northwest Michigan. Growing up he attended and graduated from Ellsworth High School lettering in football, basketball and track for three years. He attended college at Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Michigan majoring in Mechanical Engineering. After college Fred returned to his hometown and married Mary Vander Ark and worked in the Taylor family business until 1982 when he moved his family to Rome, Georgia to start his own business.

Fred was the founder of several businesses including OTR Wheel Engineering, Blackstone OTR, TWA and Green Carbon which are located in Rome: OTR International with location in USA, Europe, Canada, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka. Many of these companies have multiple locations with a total of over thousand valued employees worldwide.

Fred was a member of First Presbyterian Church Rome, GA and has served as deacon and elder of the church. He also serves on boards at King University, Bristol TN, Haggai Institute, Norcross GA, and Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens, NY. He was on the board for the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes and YMCA. He was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Governor's Board of Workforce Development for the State of Georgia.

Fred’s hobbies included his love for fitness and health and a love for outdoor activities centered around hunting and fishing. His greatest love was creating memorable moments with his grandchildren, which varied with dancing, flashlight walks, many different farm escapades, Black- Friday shopping with his granddaughters and most elaborate storytelling adventures. His adult children also relish childhood memories of outdoor adventures and his legendary storytelling.

In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by a brother, Brent Lawrence Taylor.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of over 51 years, Mary Vander Ark Taylor, whom he married June 18, 1970; two daughters, Kelly Brianne Taylor, and Elisabeth June Taylor; three sons and daughters-in-law, Chadwick Blake and Lee Davis Taylor, Eric Blake Taylor, and Andrew Blake and Michelle Knowles Taylor; seven grandchildren, Madelyn Taylor, Macey Price, Cooper Taylor, Grayson Taylor, Reef Taylor, Blake Hall, and Ethan Hall. Other survivors include a sister, Cheri Holley, a brother and sister-in-law, Maurice and Michelle Taylor, and many loved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Fred will be held on Saturday morning, December 18, 2021, at 11a.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Pardue, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Schwartz and Rev. Scott Jackson officiating. Private family entombment will precede in the mausoleum at Myrtle Hill Cemetery.

Fred’s family will receive friends at Salmon Funeral Home on Friday evening, December 17, 2021, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Pallbearers are asked to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:30 a.m. and include Chad Taylor, Andy Taylor, Jerry Holley, Chris Holley, Tony Taylor and Brent Taylor. Cooper Taylor and Blake Hall will serve as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC, 28607, or Unity Christian School Scholarship Fund, 2960 New Calhoun Highway NE, Rome, GA, 30161, or to a local charity of your choice.

The staff of Salmon Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Fredrick Blake “Fred” Taylor.