Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor was born on July 8, 1937, at home on the family’s allotted Cherokee Homestead in Gideon, Oklahoma, to Andy and Hersie Taylor. He was their pride and joy since they already had his six older sisters. It didn’t take long for the family to start calling him A.C., a nickname that stayed with him for his entire life.

After attending country schools in his elementary years, A.C. switched to school in town where he drove the school bus, a job that he was really proud of. A.C. started dating Connie Sue Tharp in high school. He graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1955 and went on to college at Northeastern State University while also working at Tahlequah Lumber Company, a job that would launch his career in the lumber business. When Connie Sue graduated in 1957, the two became engaged and were married in January of 1958. The couple moved to Tulsa where A.C. continued his career in the lumber industry. Eventually, this field took him to Canadian, TX. After years in the lumber business, A.C. was ready to branch into a new field so he started the first of several companies he would own and operate in the oil and gas industry. He was Man of the Year and his company, Taylor Oilfield Services, was Company of the Year in Canadian, TX.

Eventually, A.C.’s love and knowledge of horses led him to buying, selling, racing and breeding Quarter horses. Horses he owned landed in the winner’s circle over 25 times but horses he bred and sold went on to earn him a spot on the Top Producing Breeders list.

A.C.’s various careers kept his family comfortable but the work he was most proud of was his work with young people. In Canadian, he coached Little League and ran the Boy Scouts, helped with the Girls Scouts, was active with the PTA, the Rotary Club and helped build a new ball complex. He worked closely with Cookson Hills Christian Home and was a leader in the First Christian Church. After relocating to Seminole, OK, he became active in the First Baptist Church where he was involved in the Bridge ministry and was “The Voice” of Upwards Sports for many years.

His wife of over 65 years, Connie Sue, says he was “Onery but dependable.”

A.C. was preceded in death by his parents, Andy and Hersie Taylor, and all six of his sisters, Hazel, Luenell, Jaqueline, Clyde, Mary Helen and Kathleen. He is survived by his wife, Connie Sue, and his children Andrew C. Taylor (Carol) of Signal Mountain, TN; Christopher A. Taylor (Nataliya) of Tulsa, OK and Amy Sue Hunt (Allen) of Seminole, OK. He has 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Bridge ministry at First Baptist Church in Seminole, OK or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, both of which were organizations that A.C. supported.

There will be a brief service at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, OK on Saturday, September 30 at 10 a.m. followed by a graveside service at Tahlequah City Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK at 2 p.m. the same day. The family encourages guests to attend the service closest to them rather than trying to attend both. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole.