He was a native of Cherokee County, NC and the son of the late Henry Fair and Verna Jones Taylor. Lynell had worked in the carpet mills as a shearing machine operator. He was a US Air Force veteran. Lynell was an avid NASCAR fan.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Billy Taylor and Bobby Taylor.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry Dockery Taylor; two daughters, Amelia Taylor and Olivia Taylor; two brothers, Dean Taylor and his wife, Annette and Newell Taylor and his wife Oleada; several nieces, nephews and cousins.