Taylor Allen Force

A celebration of Taylor Allen Force’s life will be held at Broadway Church of Christ, 1924 Broadway, Lubbock, TX, on Monday, March 14, at 3pm under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home. Taylor Allen Force, 28, died March 8, in Jaffa, Israel, from a terrorist attack while on a school-sponsored trip in conjunction with his MBA studies at Vanderbilt University. Taylor was born in Houston on June 21, 1987, (Father’s Day), to Stuart and Robbi Force, and lived in Houston with his sister, Kristen, and parents until moving to Ruidoso, NM at the age of 6. The family then moved to Lubbock in 1998. Taylor attended Smith Elementary and Irons JHS. Taylor began his scouting experience with Troop 505, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended New Mexico Military Institute, graduating from its high school program in 2006. He was president of the National Honor Society, and ran track and cross-country. Taylor received a nomination to the United States Military Academy at West Point from Congressman Randy Neugebauer, was accepted, and graduated and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in May 2009. While at West Point, Taylor raced on the ski team, a life-long passion that began in Ruidoso. As a Field Artillery Officer, Taylor completed one combat tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He completed his active duty commitment and applied to MBA programs. He was accepted at Vanderbilt University and began his studies in August, 2015. Taylor leaves behind his parents, Stuart and Robbi Force of Kiawah Island, SC, and his sister Kristen Ann Force of New York City. Taylor also leaves behind his grandmother, Johnnie Sue Dayton (TuTu), of Lubbock, TX, Uncle Kirk and Aunt Cynthia Gentry of Lubbock, Aunt LaDanna Gentry, also of Lubbock, Uncle Mike and Aunt Jackie Miller, of Charleston, SC., Aunt Nancy Southwick of Charleston, cousins Chase Gentry, Maile Gentry, David Southwick, Jamie Southwick, John Bray and his wife Jennifer, and Ashley Bohlman and her husband Joe. Taylor was preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert Gentry of Lubbock, and grandparents Stuart and Ann Force of Kiawah Island. Many special memories, good thoughts, and prayers from friends, classmates, and strangers are shared on social media sites. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, in Taylor’s name, in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated.

Taylor Allen Force

June 21, 1987 - March 8, 2016