John E. “Johnny” Taylor of Chickamauga, Georgia, passed away on August 14, 2026, at home, surrounded by his loved ones after a lifelong battle with a rare disease.

John was born in Fort Oglethorpe, to Elmer and Eva Mitchell Taylor on June 11, 1954. Though he was a graduate of Gordon Lee High School and Walker Technical Institute, he was always a Georgia Bulldog at heart. John was also a proud veteran of the United States Navy and was stationed on the U.S.S. Littlerock from 1972 to 1975. Following his time of military service, John spent the next several decades working for the Catoosa County Board of Education as an HVAC technician. He retired in 2016 after 37 years of faithful service to the children of Catoosa County. He loved working with his hands, and his technical, mechanical, and electrical skills were always sought out and put to good use. He lived in Chickamauga for 72 years and for the last several attended Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church.

On July 18, 2005, John married Kathy in the backyard of the home he had built and designed himself. Over the next 20 years, he would open his doors to host gatherings, dinners, and visiting friends and family members who never doubted they had a place to stay in Chickamauga. He was always ready for a game of pool or chess, a long visit on the back deck, or an afternoon watching old Westerns (unless Georgia was playing!). Though John was a man of few words, he was the “patriarch” of his siblings, serving the family with quiet and steady strength that they came to trust and count on. Even now in the midst of the grief and loss, they can hear his simple and unfaltering reminder, “everything’ll be alright.”

John is survived by his loving wife Kathy, his sisters, Lee Watkins (Tom) and Jewell Chason (Jimmy); his brother, Jerry Taylor (Donna); his stepchildren whom he loved as his own: Chris Bonham (Stefanie), Nathan Bonham (Nikki), Nick Bonham (Drew), and Ben Bonham; his grandsons Luis Bonham, Noah Bonham, and Barrett Bonham; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Lane Funeral Home and Crematory South Crest Chapel from 1–4 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. A committal service will take place on Aug. 24, at Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Mitochondrial Care Network (www.mitonetwork.org), or memorials may be made in his name to Mission to the World, PO Box 744165, Atlanta, Ga. 30374-4165 (Memo: Bonham 10788) https://www.mtw.org/missionaries/details/nate-and-nikki-bonham.

Condolences can be shared with the Taylor family and live webcasting of the funeral service can be viewed at www.lane-southcrestchapel.com

All arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home and Crematory South Crest Chapel, Rossville.