Thelma Lorene Taylor, age 95, of Festus, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021. She was the 2nd child of 14 children born to Jessie James Sr. and Alice (Jackson) James.
She was preceded in death by both parents, husband, Ray R. Taylor, Sr. son, Don L. Taylor, Sr., grandson, Jeremy Alexander. Eleven siblings: Ronnie James, Earl Donald James, Charles Augustus James, Jessie James II, Cecil James, Gene Richard James, Sandra (James) Oliver, Patrice (James) Patton, Mary (James) Smith and Marva (James) Williams.
She is survived by sisters, Janet (the late Charles Sr.) James Cherry of Festus, MO, Alice Faye (the late Ben) James Manning of Festus, MO, and Madeline (the late Caesar) James Swiney of California. Sister-in-laws Evelyn (the late Ronnie) Zimmerman James, Jessica (the late Gene) Gill James of Topeka KS. Children: Jane Taylor Turner of Phoenix, AZ, Robert Taylor of Festus, MO, Linda (Percy) Taylor Rockmore of Cedar Hill, TX, Ray Taylor Jr. of Pevely, MO, Alma Taylor Waever of Herculaneum, MO. Grandchildren: Don Taylor Jr., Dawn Griffin, Laura Leigh Taylor, Cassandra (Chris) Howze Thomas, Kristine Howze Moore, Taylor Howze, Aurielle Weaver, Branda George, Joe Alexander, Michael Delong, Lisa Tarkita, Alexander Jameson. Nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, and cousins with recognizing Special Nieces Gloria (Johnny) Jackson Bequette and Donna (Albert) Smith Spicer.
Mom married Ray Taylor, Sr. in 1943 and moved to Herculaneum in 1948. She retired as a cook serving 20 plus years. In her youth, she attended the Methodist Church of Festus then membership at Buren Chapel AME of Herculaneum. Extended family often called her "Thel" or "Sis". She was very active doing many things throughout her lifetime of 95 years. Later years mom lost her hearing and sight but with her determination, she found ways to do things she loved. She had such a love for baking, sewing, the outdoors and baseball. A love of baking gave enjoyment from people's smiles after eating her pies, cakes, Aunt Essie rolls, popcorn balls, canning and jelly making. The love of sewing made many quilts, dresses and also knitting and crocheted items. The outdoors first love is fishing any time, then gardening, a love of gathering mushrooms and wild greens in the Spring. The Fall season found her gathering walnuts, hickory nuts and pecans. She knew the names of edible wild plants and identified trees. A diehard baseball Cardinal fan even hearing loss still didn't keep her from the game. She played on the Douglas School Softball team and proudly boasted of hitting the home run, the only run to win the game in Sparta, IL. Favorite position short stop. She loved ceramics, drawing, played a guitar, the organ, and became an author. She never held back to assist with Church, individual family, or community needs.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by both parents, husband, Ray R. Taylor, Sr. son, Don L. Taylor, Sr., grandson, Jeremy Alexander. Eleven siblings: Ronnie James, Earl Donald James, Charles Augustus James, Jessie James II, Cecil James, Gene Richard James, Sandra (James) Oliver, Patrice (James) Patton, Mary (James) Smith and Marva (James) Williams.
She is survived by sisters, Janet (the late Charles Sr.) James Cherry of Festus, MO, Alice Faye (the late Ben) James Manning of Festus, MO, and Madeline (the late Caesar) James Swiney of California. Sister-in-laws Evelyn (the late Ronnie) Zimmerman James, Jessica (the late Gene) Gill James of Topeka KS. Children: Jane Taylor Turner of Phoenix, AZ, Robert Taylor of Festus, MO, Linda (Percy) Taylor Rockmore of Cedar Hill, TX, Ray Taylor Jr. of Pevely, MO, Alma Taylor Waever of Herculaneum, MO. Grandchildren: Don Taylor Jr., Dawn Griffin, Laura Leigh Taylor, Cassandra (Chris) Howze Thomas, Kristine Howze Moore, Taylor Howze, Aurielle Weaver, Branda George, Joe Alexander, Michael Delong, Lisa Tarkita, Alexander Jameson. Nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, and cousins with recognizing Special Nieces Gloria (Johnny) Jackson Bequette and Donna (Albert) Smith Spicer.
Mom married Ray Taylor, Sr. in 1943 and moved to Herculaneum in 1948. She retired as a cook serving 20 plus years. In her youth, she attended the Methodist Church of Festus then membership at Buren Chapel AME of Herculaneum. Extended family often called her "Thel" or "Sis". She was very active doing many things throughout her lifetime of 95 years. Later years mom lost her hearing and sight but with her determination, she found ways to do things she loved. She had such a love for baking, sewing, the outdoors and baseball. A love of baking gave enjoyment from people's smiles after eating her pies, cakes, Aunt Essie rolls, popcorn balls, canning and jelly making. The love of sewing made many quilts, dresses and also knitting and crocheted items. The outdoors first love is fishing any time, then gardening, a love of gathering mushrooms and wild greens in the Spring. The Fall season found her gathering walnuts, hickory nuts and pecans. She knew the names of edible wild plants and identified trees. A diehard baseball Cardinal fan even hearing loss still didn't keep her from the game. She played on the Douglas School Softball team and proudly boasted of hitting the home run, the only run to win the game in Sparta, IL. Favorite position short stop. She loved ceramics, drawing, played a guitar, the organ, and became an author. She never held back to assist with Church, individual family, or community needs.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Thelma Lorene Taylor, age 95, of Festus, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021. She was the 2nd child of 14 children born to Jessie James Sr. and Alice (Jackson) James.
She was preceded in death by both parents, husband, Ray R. Taylor, Sr. son, Don L. Taylor, Sr., grandson, Jeremy Alexander. Eleven siblings: Ronnie James, Earl Donald James, Charles Augustus James, Jessie James II, Cecil James, Gene Richard James, Sandra (James) Oliver, Patrice (James) Patton, Mary (James) Smith and Marva (James) Williams.
She is survived by sisters, Janet (the late Charles Sr.) James Cherry of Festus, MO, Alice Faye (the late Ben) James Manning of Festus, MO, and Madeline (the late Caesar) James Swiney of California. Sister-in-laws Evelyn (the late Ronnie) Zimmerman James, Jessica (the late Gene) Gill James of Topeka KS. Children: Jane Taylor Turner of Phoenix, AZ, Robert Taylor of Festus, MO, Linda (Percy) Taylor Rockmore of Cedar Hill, TX, Ray Taylor Jr. of Pevely, MO, Alma Taylor Waever of Herculaneum, MO. Grandchildren: Don Taylor Jr., Dawn Griffin, Laura Leigh Taylor, Cassandra (Chris) Howze Thomas, Kristine Howze Moore, Taylor Howze, Aurielle Weaver, Branda George, Joe Alexander, Michael Delong, Lisa Tarkita, Alexander Jameson. Nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, and cousins with recognizing Special Nieces Gloria (Johnny) Jackson Bequette and Donna (Albert) Smith Spicer.
Mom married Ray Taylor, Sr. in 1943 and moved to Herculaneum in 1948. She retired as a cook serving 20 plus years. In her youth, she attended the Methodist Church of Festus then membership at Buren Chapel AME of Herculaneum. Extended family often called her "Thel" or "Sis". She was very active doing many things throughout her lifetime of 95 years. Later years mom lost her hearing and sight but with her determination, she found ways to do things she loved. She had such a love for baking, sewing, the outdoors and baseball. A love of baking gave enjoyment from people's smiles after eating her pies, cakes, Aunt Essie rolls, popcorn balls, canning and jelly making. The love of sewing made many quilts, dresses and also knitting and crocheted items. The outdoors first love is fishing any time, then gardening, a love of gathering mushrooms and wild greens in the Spring. The Fall season found her gathering walnuts, hickory nuts and pecans. She knew the names of edible wild plants and identified trees. A diehard baseball Cardinal fan even hearing loss still didn't keep her from the game. She played on the Douglas School Softball team and proudly boasted of hitting the home run, the only run to win the game in Sparta, IL. Favorite position short stop. She loved ceramics, drawing, played a guitar, the organ, and became an author. She never held back to assist with Church, individual family, or community needs.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by both parents, husband, Ray R. Taylor, Sr. son, Don L. Taylor, Sr., grandson, Jeremy Alexander. Eleven siblings: Ronnie James, Earl Donald James, Charles Augustus James, Jessie James II, Cecil James, Gene Richard James, Sandra (James) Oliver, Patrice (James) Patton, Mary (James) Smith and Marva (James) Williams.
She is survived by sisters, Janet (the late Charles Sr.) James Cherry of Festus, MO, Alice Faye (the late Ben) James Manning of Festus, MO, and Madeline (the late Caesar) James Swiney of California. Sister-in-laws Evelyn (the late Ronnie) Zimmerman James, Jessica (the late Gene) Gill James of Topeka KS. Children: Jane Taylor Turner of Phoenix, AZ, Robert Taylor of Festus, MO, Linda (Percy) Taylor Rockmore of Cedar Hill, TX, Ray Taylor Jr. of Pevely, MO, Alma Taylor Waever of Herculaneum, MO. Grandchildren: Don Taylor Jr., Dawn Griffin, Laura Leigh Taylor, Cassandra (Chris) Howze Thomas, Kristine Howze Moore, Taylor Howze, Aurielle Weaver, Branda George, Joe Alexander, Michael Delong, Lisa Tarkita, Alexander Jameson. Nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, and cousins with recognizing Special Nieces Gloria (Johnny) Jackson Bequette and Donna (Albert) Smith Spicer.
Mom married Ray Taylor, Sr. in 1943 and moved to Herculaneum in 1948. She retired as a cook serving 20 plus years. In her youth, she attended the Methodist Church of Festus then membership at Buren Chapel AME of Herculaneum. Extended family often called her "Thel" or "Sis". She was very active doing many things throughout her lifetime of 95 years. Later years mom lost her hearing and sight but with her determination, she found ways to do things she loved. She had such a love for baking, sewing, the outdoors and baseball. A love of baking gave enjoyment from people's smiles after eating her pies, cakes, Aunt Essie rolls, popcorn balls, canning and jelly making. The love of sewing made many quilts, dresses and also knitting and crocheted items. The outdoors first love is fishing any time, then gardening, a love of gathering mushrooms and wild greens in the Spring. The Fall season found her gathering walnuts, hickory nuts and pecans. She knew the names of edible wild plants and identified trees. A diehard baseball Cardinal fan even hearing loss still didn't keep her from the game. She played on the Douglas School Softball team and proudly boasted of hitting the home run, the only run to win the game in Sparta, IL. Favorite position short stop. She loved ceramics, drawing, played a guitar, the organ, and became an author. She never held back to assist with Church, individual family, or community needs.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
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