Columbus, OH — William Robert “Billy Bob” Taylor, 82, died May 9, 2023.

Mr. Taylor never had a bad day in his life. He approached each sunrise with a positive outlook even on the dimmest of days, and lived out his passion — a life surrounded by horses and horse folks and family and friends who were like-minded.

William Robert Taylor was born on Nov. 26, 1940, to Dan Woodford Taylor and Mary Catherine Lannon Taylor at home on Green-Wilson Road in Frankfort, Ky.

Horses carried him to Pennsylvania and around the globe, and his passion took him into the Standardbred business where he trained numerous successful winners at the tracks. He chose to spend his final years in Shelbyville, Ky.

Mr. Taylor served in Korea in the Army and was well-travelled, spending some time in both China and Japan. He worked at the Graterford Prison in Pennsylvania, where he developed their Mounted Patrol program, retiring after ten years.

During the 1980s, he was to be found at brother Joe Taylor and sons’ family farm in Nicholasville, world-renowned Taylor Made Farm and Sales Agency.

Mr. Taylor and his constant travelling companion Jim Broder had some exciting trips in their retirement, traveling the Yangtse river in China and the Panama Canal and Founder’s Day in Akron, Ohio, together.

For the last four years, Mr. Taylor served as Director of Education for the non-profit program ‘Horsesensing’ based in Shelbyville, whose mission is teaching humans how to interact with horses and better care for themselves and those around them.

He is survived by his daughter, Sharonlee Taylor Oescher; granddaughters, Allison Taylor Oescher and Olivia Grace Oescher; sister, Lucy Gentry Taylor Easley; and his ex-wife, Nancy Ogden. He was affectionately known as ‘Uncle Willie’ to his 52 nephews and nieces, but will always be remembered by all as ‘Billy Bob.’ He leaves behind many friends both on and off the racetrack, including his companion, Aggie Massie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dan and Mary Catherine Lannon Taylor; brothers, Frank, Joseph Lannon and Ned; sisters, Margaret Ratliff, Mary Dan Tinsley and Bernadine ‘Pippi’ Stahl; first wife, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Samlock Taylor; stepdaughter, Gwen Samlock McWilliams; and second wife, Judith Bridwell Franklin Taylor, mother of his two stepsons, Harris and Church Franklin.

A brief Mass will take place at Rogers Funeral Home on Friday (May 19) at 10 a.m., followed by visitation at 10:30 a.m. and a celebration of life service at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Camp Nelson National Cemetery. The family will then host a gathering at 3:30 p.m. at the Stable Recovery House at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville. Pallbearers will be Marshall Taylor, Steve Lyons, David Easley and Robby Bath.

Memorial contributions may be made to Stable Recovery at stablerecovery.net.