James Colin Taulbee

We are sad to announce that James Colin Taulbee, 80, of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky has passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Lexington, Ky. on September 23, 2023.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Patty Ferguson Taulbee, his parents, John and Lucy Sizemore Taulbee, three sisters: Imogene Wilson, Vermell Bowen Banks, and Nancy Adams Simpson, four brothers: Voris Taulbee, Leonard Taulbee, Tommy Taulbee, and Johnny Taulbee, one son: James Taulbee and his dog Cooper.

James is survived by one son, Steven Taulbee, one daughter Melodye Taulbee, one step daughter, Stacie (Randall) Thacker, and one step son, Joseph (Rebekah) Ferguson, a host of grandchildren, step grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

James grew up in Letcher County, KY and entered the US Army in 1963 after high school graduation from Whitesburg High School.  In the Army, James received training in Combat engineering.  James did two tours of duty in Viet Name with the 18th Engineering Battalion, a combat support group where he earned a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Viet Nam Campaign-Service Awards.  In 22 years of military service, James did a total  of four overseas tours of duty as a Staff Sargent with the 18th and 20th Engineering Battalions.  After retiring from the Army, James held various store managements jobs in Texas and Virginia before moving to Mt. Vernon.  James lived there 18 years until his death. In Mt. Vernon, James was a member of Scaffold Cane Baptist Church.  He loved to watch westerns, read, listen to gospel music, visit the Smoky Mountains, tinker with cars, and smoke cigars.  James has made a lot of good memories in his lifetime with friends and family.  He will be missed by those who knew him, until that day when we meet again.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, one of James’ favorite charities.