ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – On November 8, 2024, just a month before his 26th birthday, Taylor Don Dye from Wylie died at his home.
Family, friends, and former Wylie ISD staff attended his service and visitation at the Hamil Funeral Home , a testament to his impact on the community he held so dear. Though he graduated from Wylie High School in 2011, his love for the school is one he carried his whole life through, as his nieces, sisters Morgan and Camri Travis, told KTAB/KRBC.
“That was his favorite place to be like he never wanted to leave there.” Said Morgan.
“And then, Craig Bessent, his teacher/superintendent Taylor, really loved him,” Camri added.
Bessent was Dye’s teacher beginning at Wylie West Intermediate. But their bond grew over his five years as a student, the pair eating every lunch together and getting to know each other on a profoundly personal level.
“Y’know, it was pretty easy to tell when Taylor came to Wylie. He was a special person; Taylor and I ate lunch together for five or six years. Nearly every lunch, we had a lot of long conversations. Mostly, I did all the talking, and he did all the listening, but he tolerated me through all those times.” Said Bessent.