John V. "Jack" Taylor

John "Jack" Vernon Taylor, 83, of Madison, Indiana, passed away on July 30, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of memories, friendships, family, and a love of sports that began when he was a boy and never left him.

Jack was born July 17, 1943, in Madison to John Edward and Dora McCarty Taylor. Madison was always home, and it was here that Jack began a life that would become deeply woven into the community he loved.

A 1961 graduate of Madison High School, Jack was an athlete from the beginning. He was Madison's first quarterback, the school's first five-letter athlete, and scored the first touchdown in Madison football history. Those were accomplishments he could certainly be proud of, but they also marked the beginning of something that would remain a part of Jack for the rest of his life: his love of sports and, even more importantly, the people he met through them.

One June 8, 1963, Jack married Karen Lee Furnish. For more than 63 years, they shared a life together and raised their three children, Jackie, Janie, and JJ. Through all the games, practices, seasons, jobs, family gatherings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and eventually great-great-grandchildren, Karen remained by his side.

If there was a ball, a field, a court, a whistle, or a scoreboard involved, chances were Jack wanted to be there.

Throughout his life, he coached basketball, baseball, football, softball, and volleyball. He served as an umpire and referee and began officiating with the Indiana High School Athletic Association in 1963, continuing until 2020. For more than half a century, generations of athletes, coaches, parents, fellow officials, and fans came to know Jack.

And somewhere along the way, he made what seemed like a million friends.

That may be one of the best ways to measure Jack's life-not simply by the number of games he officiated or teams he coached, but by the number of people who knew him, remembered him, laughed with him, and were glad to call him a friend.

It was only natural that Jack chose a career in parks and recreation, where sports, community, and people could remain part of his everyday life. He retired on November 1, 2007, but retirement didn't mean sitting still. His love of golf led him to continue working part-time at the golf course, giving him another reason to be around a game he enjoyed and, of course, around people.

Jack was a member of Hanover United Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge, the Men's Bowling Association, and the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

But for all the titles Jack held throughout his life-quarterback, athlete, coach, umpire, referee, golfer, and friend-the ones that mattered the most were husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, and Great-Great-Grandpa.

Jack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Karen Lee Taylor; his children, Jackie and her husband, Barry Weber of Hanover, Indiana; Janie Taylor and her partner, Mark Bryan, of Madison, Indiana; and JJ Taylor of Phoenix, Arizona.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cassie Bray of Lexington, Kentucky, Eden Bray of Alabaster, Alabama, Jordan Bray of Bedford, Kentucky, Regina Dason Lind of Madison, Indiana, and Nicole Dave Lipperd; his great-grandchildren, Paige Koty Lawson, Bryce Weber, Myles Monroe, and David Lipperd, all of Hanover, Indiana; and his great-great-grandchilren, Ava Jane Bray of Crestwood, Kenutcky, and Gwen, Griffin, and Rowan Lawson of Hanover, Indiana.

Jack is further survived by his sisters-in-law, Janey Peelman of Vevay, Indiana, and Patricia Morgan of Milton, Kentucky; and his brother-in-law, Carroll Edward Furnish of Italy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Edward and Dora McCarty Taylor; his parents-in-law, Charles Russell and Essie Leola Furnish; his brothers-in-law, Church Furnish, Nick Furnish, Bill Furnish, Terry Morgan, and Rick Peelman; and his sisters-in-law, Myra Gail Furnish, Loves Mae Jacobs, and Juanita Faye Scholl.

Jack lived a life that was full. Full of family. Full of games and golf courses, ball fields and gymnasiums. Full of friendships made over more than eight decades in the community he called home. But most importantly he was full of the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

There will be games played without him, whistles blown by someone else, and rounds of golf where his presence will be missed. But Jack leaves behind something that cannot be measured on any scoreboard-the lives he touched, the friendships he made, the family he loved, and more than 80 years of stories that will continue to be told by the people who knew and loved him.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., by Pastor Luke Richards at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Springdale Cemetery in downtown Madison, Indiana.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana and Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jack's memory to the Hanover United Methodist Church Food Pantry or the Friends of the Jefferson County Animal Shelter, in honor of his beloved Penelope at the link below the obituary.