Arles Allen Taylor, age 87, of Carthage, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Surry County on September 3, 1938, he was the son of the late Jobe Columbus Taylor and Blanche Hawks Taylor.
Arles was a pillar of his community of Carthage, NC, for decades. He operated a local service station, was a racecar driver, mail carrier, little league coach, church deacon, woodworker, terrific dad to his four children and husband to his wife of 59 years. He loved sports, especially baseball, and was able to realize his dream of visiting the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2018 with his sons and grandson. He is also known for borrowing his brother James’s car to drive to Yankee Stadium in 1955 to attend the World Series. He dearly loved the Cleveland Indians and watched them avidly all his life. He loved NC State football and attended many games with his family. When his oldest son was a student at NC State, Arles bought season football tickets, which he enjoyed attending for years with both of his sons. Arles and his younger brother Billy raced cars on local circuits in the 1960s and 1970s. His racecar number was 17, and this number became a symbol for his family over the years. Arles was known for his dry sense of humor and loved to crack a joke. He used many signature phrases, such as calling people whose name he couldn’t remember “gizmo,” and replying to an invitation, in his polite southern gentleman way, with “we might could do that.”
As a woodworker, Arles made a variety of beautiful pieces, including toys, tables, picture and puzzle frames, cabinets, desks, dressers, and cedar chests. He loved working with woods like pine and cedar and would often get requests from his children to build a piece of furniture they needed.
Arles had a servant’s heart and would answer the call without question if someone was in need. For many years, he served faithfully at Red Branch Baptist Church as a deacon and church leader, often going on trips with the Baptist Men when natural disasters occurred. He loved packing up for those trips and organizing the church trailer that housed the tools and equipment.
Arles would say his favorite role was that of grandpa. He took many beach trips with his family and was always up for an ocean swim. He loved making big breakfasts for his family at the beach, complete with bacon, eggs, and pancakes. He loved being outside in the sunshine, especially at the beach, and later by his very own swimming pool, where he would play for hours with his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Joe, Ray, and James Taylor and his sister Pauline Taylor Fields.
He is survived by his wife Bradie G. Taylor; his children Laura T. Trevino of Haywood CA, son Arles Taylor, Jr. and wife Dottie of Durham, Jennifer Alderman and husband Travis of Durham, David Taylor and wife Heather of Fuquay Varina; brother Billy Taylor and wife Annette of Carthage; grandchildren Isabel, Aaron, Sam, Alex, Nicholas and Riley; great-grandchildren Chloe, Joseph and Ruth.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17th, at Red Branch Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Jeff Mitchell. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Services entrusted to: Fry & Prickett Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at PinesFunerals.com.
