Alfred Lonnie Taylor died unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Al (or A.L.) was 94 years old. Despite his age, Al remained mentally sharp and physically healthy until he suffered a medical event that quickly took his life. An informal memorial service will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.


Born on April 15, 1931, in Ashland, Oklahoma, to Johnnie (Jones) Taylor and Lonnie Taylor, Al spent his early years in Southeastern Oklahoma. The rural, hardworking people of Ashland, and nearby towns such as Stuart, not only helped form Al's work ethic and fortitude, but continued to be his "family" and bedrock for all his 94 years, even though his many professional accomplishments took him to "big" cities in Oklahoma and elsewhere.


In addition to his parents, Al is preceded in death by his three sisters, Mary Taylor Fairless, Julia Larue Taylor, and Lucille Taylor.


Al is survived by his wife of almost 76 years, Jackie (Reese) Taylor.


Although Jackie and Al were never able to have children, they showered their dozens of nephews and nieces, and each of their extended families, with love, support, and encouragement for all of Al's years.


Al graduated from Ashland High School in 1949. There, he played basketball and baseball and ran track. Al was the president of his class for all four years.


After high school, Al was a full-time farmer for a couple of years, and he later worked as an auto mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base. Al then enlisted in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged in 1954, having risen to the rank of Sergeant and being awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Al remained in the Army Reserves for several years after his active-duty service.


Al then pursued higher education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University in 1959 and later a Master of Science degree from Kansas State College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State) in 1967.


After graduating from OSU, Al became a pioneer in the emerging industry of "data processing;" which at the time involved a newfangled piece of technology called an IBM machine.


In 1959, Al accepted a position with the United States Atomic Energy Commission as the Data Processing Supervisor at a nuclear power plant in Idaho Falls, Idaho. A deadly reactor accident occurred in 1961 at that plant, but systems put in place by Al saved lives and equipment. Although he never bragged about it, Al was proud of the Certificate of Appreciation and Letter of Commendation he received from the Commission on March 5, 1962, which remains in a simple frame on a wall in Jackie and Al's home today.


As an avid outdoorsman, Al loved living and working in Idaho. But Oklahoma was always home for Jackie and Al, so when the opportunity presented itself, they moved back. Continuing his work in the fast-growing computer industry, Al became the Director of Data Processing at Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College (NEO) in Miami, Oklahoma. Later he took the same job at the University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma in Chickasha. Those jobs in higher education led to what became Al's longest professional stint.


In 1971. Al was hired as the Vice-President for Administrative Services for what was to become South Oklahoma City Junior College (later renamed to Oklahoma City Community College, known as OCCC). To say that Al was involved from the get-go with OCCC would be an understatement. He literally supervised the construction project to build the school. From 1971 until even various times after 2010, Al wore many hats at OCCC and handled specific projects even after his retirement. Perhaps due to his private nature and humility, Al's contributions at OCCC are sometimes overlooked by some and forgotten by others. One author described Al's contribution to the school this way:


"It's a stretch but by one way of counting, Al Taylor was the third,
fifth, seventh, and ninth President of South Oklahoma City Junior
College. To be more precise, he was the interim or acting President
four times. To be more dramatic, he was a lifeguard who kept the
college afloat when it could have foundered."


Al was a member of the Church of Christ in Perkins, Oklahoma. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, photography, and travel.


Jackie and Al retired to Stillwater, Oklahoma, which had become somewhat of a new home base for the family because Jackie's parents lived there for many years prior to their deaths, as did several of Jackie's beloved siblings.


Although Jackie and Al were unable to have children of their own, it can be said with great confidence that their lifelong demonstration of devotion to one another and their extended family created a model for everyone and a legacy that will continue.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com .