Benny Taylor passed away January 31, 2017, peacefully with his children by his side. He was 77 years old. Born in Tulsa, Benny was the first of six children to Amos and Louise Taylor. He went to Central High School, and then on to Oklahoma State University where he received his degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

After college he worked for Ramsey Winch, followed by Don R. Hinderlighter and then the Williams Brothers Pipeline Division. He went on to join the sales force of Machinery Locators, owned by his brother Gene Taylor. In 1975 he started his own company, Taylor Machine Tools, a distribution corporation for CNC machinery.

Benny married Aggie Rae Greer, also from Tulsa, in 1958. They later moved with their three children to acreage in Inola, complete with horses, chickens, milking cows and peacocks. They hoped for the kids to grow up with a love of nature and a work ethic from having daily chores. Ben and Aggie ran Taylor Machine Tools for 30 years together and were married for 54 years until Aggie passed away in June 2013.

Benny's passion was always racing from the beginning when he joined the Piston Pusher Car Club in high school and drag-raced his old '34 Ford Coupe with a Chevy engine. The Tulsa Speedway was his opening into the sport of auto racing in the early 1960's racing super modified cars and later on to the World of Outlaws. On the track and among his fans, he was known as Benny "Wahoo" Taylor, a tribute to his heritage as a member of the Cherokee Nation. At the end of a Saturday night race, kids wanted to see the Indian with the long braids and black hat. To keep his good image with the kids, he was known to put his beer in a milk carton. Even into retirement he raced in the Legends circuit.

He leaves behind three children, Randy Taylor (wife Carmen), Dr. Terri Taylor, and Tulsa designer Ben Taylor, as well as four grandchildren, Josh Krafft, Zachary Taylor, Branson Taylor and Raelynn Taylor. He is also survived by his siblings, Gene Taylor (wife Barbara), Jenise Brantley (husband Alvin), Eddy Taylor, Barbara Taylor and Robert Taylor.

Services will be held at Fitzgerald Southwood Chapel at 11:00 am on Monday, February 6, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Alzheimers Association ( www.alz.org ).

Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500.