Grady Roy Taylor, 80, passed away on April 12, 2022. Born in Crossett, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Charles Hunter Taylor and Sally Inez Locke Taylor. He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Jenny Peacock; granddaughter, Joy Staley; and brother, William Taylor.

After enjoying a childhood spent growing up in the country, as a young adult Grady embarked on his life's adventure – joining the US Navy. He went to boot camp in San Diego, CA, received his training, and then reported to his first duty station in the Bahamas. Grady became part of the then highly classified Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) program, tracking submarines from Navy shore facilities at often remote locations ranging from Midway Island to Adak, Alaska. As part of the first group of sailors to join this program he made significant contributions to national security during his twenty years of service.

While at his second duty station, Naval Facility Bermuda, Grady met his match in Judith Grey, an adventurous young Australian living in Bermuda while on an extended working holiday. They married and had four children, moving to six different duty stations before settling in Virginia Beach, VA, where Grady retired from the Navy in 1982 after serving as Command Master Chief at the Naval Ocean Processing Facility.

Grady's country boy roots then compelled him to move from the highly populated Virginia Beach to the more rural Suffolk, VA, where he acquired a home on several acres of property and started his second career, eventually retiring as the District Equipment and Facilities Manager at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in 2002. Living in Suffolk allowed Grady to indulge in his passion for tractors and growing more food than he could possibly eat. When not being a gentleman farmer, he could be found watching his beloved Atlanta Braves or Gunsmoke.

Grady was also a skilled handyman and car mechanic for his three daughters, occasionally being called on to provide wrecker service, always showing up, day or night, without complaint. He was slow to anger and could be relied upon to offer assistance to family, friends and neighbors whenever in need. Children loved his gentle ways, his patience and the tractor rides he so gladly provided. He was a rock on whom his family depended. His quick wit, wisdom and gentle spirit will be dearly missed.

Grady is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judith Helene Grey Taylor; daughters, Lisa Tuhaika (Johnny), Terri Staley, and Laura Miller; son, Kenneth Taylor (Lucia); grandchildren, John, Jenna, Jayne, Kaide, Wyatt, Leilani, and Brendan; great grandchild, Samuel; sister, JoAnn Patterson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service with military honors will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Michael D. Halley officiating. Burial will be private at a later date at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. Friends may join the family for a time of visitation Tuesday night from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.