James Robert Taylor was born in Memphis Tennessee on September 7, 1958, to Martha Joyce Johnson and Gordon Taylor. As a teenager he moved to Florida and resided in the Daytona Beach shores with his father. James was a highly skilled electrician for over 40 years he worked most recently for 17 years for the county of Volusia where he was loved, respected by all his coworkers and was a supervisor that you could depend on because he knew so many aspects of his trade and was so proud of his job.

James passed away peacefully at Halifax care center Hospice in Port Orange surrounded by his family after a short   struggle with an aggressive cancer that ultimately took his life. James is survived by his sister Connie Bowling, his brother-in-law Dwight Bowling, three nephews, Ian, Shawn, and Nate. His soulmate for 36 years Faith Genovese who loved and was blessed to have shared so many years with this gentle, simple man, his two stepchildren Keona Hodde, Dustin Hodde. His two Grandchildren Breanna and Charlee Renn .

James was a kind, simple guy that loved his music, collected guitars, knew the history of music by the back of his hand, enjoyed a Cold beer, any kind of seafood, grilling, football, and the nature channel, and of course, surfing. Anyone who had the privilege of meeting him or working with him would consider themselves lucky. I was so blessed to have this goofy, sensitive, handsome, kind soul in my life. James never judged people and he never made fun of my idiosyncrasies he stood by my side when I needed him as I did the same for him. We will miss you Sparky (my nickname for him). I loved you before I was born, remember?