SPRINGDALE — Lukas Cody Taylor,

age 25, of Springdale passed away Thursday, September 7, 2023. He was born February 18, 1998, to Robert Taylor and Susan Raben-Taylor in Fayetteville, Ark.

Growing up Luke was a curious, smart, and kind kid. He loved.

He was known by his friends for the best Halloween parties every year. He shared many wonderful memories with his family every Summer at the lake or vacationing in Mexico. He learned to scuba dive at the age of 11. He always had a kind smile and a happy twinkle in his eye.

He was a thinker and an intellectual. Luke excelled on the Fayetteville High School debate team. He graduated Fayetteville High School with honors and then went on to the University of Michigan.

At the University of Michigan, he was a member of the debate team and worked for numerous political campaigns. Luke graduated from the University of Michigan with honors, where he was an editor for the Michigan Daily. Afterward, he went on to complete his masters in economic analytics at the University of Arkansas. He enjoyed composing music with modular synthesizers, and he saw a correlation between creating music and AI programming. He created many programs, including an award-winning AI program for chess that he published.

Throughout his life he was known for his jokes and quick-witted humor. Luke was smart with his humor and didn’t have to say much to capture a room. His jokes were always punctuated by a laugh and he had the cutest laugh and smirk.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Jennifer Taylor. He is survived by his parents, Bob and Sue Taylor of Springdale; his siblings, Rachael Caines and her husband Jody of Crestwood, Ky., Erik Raben of Kansas City, Mo., Indica Taylor of Springdale, Maria Taylor of Fayetteville; nieces, Reiland Caines and Emory Caines. He is also survived by many fiercely loyal, loving and supportive friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Reception to follow in Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to https://rb.gy/8beg9 to help support the debate program at Fayetteville High School.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com