Herbert Lee Taylor, 86, passed away Friday, June 6 of complications from cancer.

He was born in Kingsland, Georgia to John and Idell Taylor. With 8 siblings, the family fell victim to the Great Depression and he was raised in the Anson Dodge Home for Boys, running the beaches of St. Simon's Island. At the age of 17, Herbert joined the Marine Corp and served as WWII ended in post-occupational China. He then returned to coastal Georgia, where he met and married the love of his life, Audilee.

Starting with very little, Herbert grew H.L. Taylor Construction into one of the most successful local businesses in the 1960's and 1970's. He was an innovator of construction materials and methods in Chatham County, and developed many of the outlying suburb's infrastructure. When it was time to retire, he managed to stay at home for six months before resuming work by request as a tabby artisan. He was featured on HGTV for his craftsmanship on Spring Island.

Herbert was active in his churches, serving as a deacon and teaching Sunday school in previous years. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and oystering. He left a legacy of love of books and the coast in his children, and had a lasting impact on all the people that he met.

Herbert is survived by his wife of 63 years, Audilee Boyd Taylor, his four children and their spouses, Julia Taylor, Jed and Lilann Taylor, Jon and Gina Taylor, Jessica and Paul Farthing, as well as his grandchildren, Kate, Morgan, Hunter, Callie, Madison, Zayne, Elizabeth, Mac and Jake. He is also survived by his brother and his wife, Tommy and Barbara Taylor and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2014 at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at Immanuel Baptist Church officiated by long term friend, the Dr. Earl Best and current Pastor, Dr. Morgan Kerr. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Abbey Memorial Park.