Bonnie Taylor was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She left this world on January 27, 2022 at the age of 78.
Born to Bob and Elna Dow on August 2, 1943, Bonnie Jean Dow grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She met her husband, John Robert Taylor, while working at the H.J. Heinz Company, and Bonnie described her years of marriage as "the best 55 years of my life."
When their identical twin daughters, Shary and Dyan, were three, Bonnie and John made the bold decision to leave Pennsylvania and move to Florida. Such a change might have frightened many, but not extroverted, adventuresome Bonnie.
When Bonnie entered a room, it was hard for others to get in a word or to hold in a laugh. Her energy was contagious. If an animal was injured or in need of a home, she brought it to hers. She made sacrifices to ensure her daughters had an excellent education and even sold hot dogs with John on the weekends when the girls were little to be able to send them to a safe, strong school.
Her presence was felt in all of the schools her daughters attended. Bonnie spent hours volunteering as Parents' Club President, Auction Chair, Picture Lady, Friend of the Library, field trip chaperone, and swim team mom. She felt especially connected at then-quirky, laid-back Tampa Prep.
Raised Presbyterian, Bonnie had grown disillusioned by many churches until she found The Presbyterian Church of Seffner, known as "the little church with the big heart," in her later years. Many of her dearest friends came from that church. She enjoyed serving as a member of the church's session, but she most enjoyed organizing Easter egg hunts for the little ones. Bonnie believed being around kids keeps a person young at heart. Her favorite young people were her grandkids, Ali and Mark Gentry.
Living with lymphoma and Parkinson's Disease for her final 12 years, Bonnie still enjoyed and appreciated life. She fit in as many trips to Europe with John as her health would allow and adored Venice, Paris, Rome, and Bruges.
As the spouse of a Korean War veteran, Bonnie will be laid to rest at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Her brother, Bobby, a Vietnam veteran, is buried there (see Find A Grave memorial 152934381). A Celebration of Life will take place in June because she would have wanted her family to be ready to smile again and share funny memories.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to one of Bonnie's favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or an organization that helps animals.
Bonnie is survived by her husband of 55 years, John, and her daughters, Shary Gentry (John), of Coppell, TX and Dyan Taylor-Harris (Tony) of Brandon, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alison Taylor Gentry of Cambridge, MA and Mark Christopher Gentry of Coppell, TX. Bonnie was also close to her many Pittsburgh cousins and loved her husband's nieces in Syracuse, NY.
Services at Bay Pines National Cemetery will be posted soon.
Brandon Cremation & Funeral Home
Born to Bob and Elna Dow on August 2, 1943, Bonnie Jean Dow grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She met her husband, John Robert Taylor, while working at the H.J. Heinz Company, and Bonnie described her years of marriage as "the best 55 years of my life."
When their identical twin daughters, Shary and Dyan, were three, Bonnie and John made the bold decision to leave Pennsylvania and move to Florida. Such a change might have frightened many, but not extroverted, adventuresome Bonnie.
When Bonnie entered a room, it was hard for others to get in a word or to hold in a laugh. Her energy was contagious. If an animal was injured or in need of a home, she brought it to hers. She made sacrifices to ensure her daughters had an excellent education and even sold hot dogs with John on the weekends when the girls were little to be able to send them to a safe, strong school.
Her presence was felt in all of the schools her daughters attended. Bonnie spent hours volunteering as Parents' Club President, Auction Chair, Picture Lady, Friend of the Library, field trip chaperone, and swim team mom. She felt especially connected at then-quirky, laid-back Tampa Prep.
Raised Presbyterian, Bonnie had grown disillusioned by many churches until she found The Presbyterian Church of Seffner, known as "the little church with the big heart," in her later years. Many of her dearest friends came from that church. She enjoyed serving as a member of the church's session, but she most enjoyed organizing Easter egg hunts for the little ones. Bonnie believed being around kids keeps a person young at heart. Her favorite young people were her grandkids, Ali and Mark Gentry.
Living with lymphoma and Parkinson's Disease for her final 12 years, Bonnie still enjoyed and appreciated life. She fit in as many trips to Europe with John as her health would allow and adored Venice, Paris, Rome, and Bruges.
As the spouse of a Korean War veteran, Bonnie will be laid to rest at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Her brother, Bobby, a Vietnam veteran, is buried there (see Find A Grave memorial 152934381). A Celebration of Life will take place in June because she would have wanted her family to be ready to smile again and share funny memories.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to one of Bonnie's favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or an organization that helps animals.
Bonnie is survived by her husband of 55 years, John, and her daughters, Shary Gentry (John), of Coppell, TX and Dyan Taylor-Harris (Tony) of Brandon, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alison Taylor Gentry of Cambridge, MA and Mark Christopher Gentry of Coppell, TX. Bonnie was also close to her many Pittsburgh cousins and loved her husband's nieces in Syracuse, NY.
Services at Bay Pines National Cemetery will be posted soon.
Brandon Cremation & Funeral Home
Bonnie Taylor was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She left this world on January 27, 2022 at the age of 78.
Born to Bob and Elna Dow on August 2, 1943, Bonnie Jean Dow grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She met her husband, John Robert Taylor, while working at the H.J. Heinz Company, and Bonnie described her years of marriage as "the best 55 years of my life."
When their identical twin daughters, Shary and Dyan, were three, Bonnie and John made the bold decision to leave Pennsylvania and move to Florida. Such a change might have frightened many, but not extroverted, adventuresome Bonnie.
When Bonnie entered a room, it was hard for others to get in a word or to hold in a laugh. Her energy was contagious. If an animal was injured or in need of a home, she brought it to hers. She made sacrifices to ensure her daughters had an excellent education and even sold hot dogs with John on the weekends when the girls were little to be able to send them to a safe, strong school.
Her presence was felt in all of the schools her daughters attended. Bonnie spent hours volunteering as Parents' Club President, Auction Chair, Picture Lady, Friend of the Library, field trip chaperone, and swim team mom. She felt especially connected at then-quirky, laid-back Tampa Prep.
Raised Presbyterian, Bonnie had grown disillusioned by many churches until she found The Presbyterian Church of Seffner, known as "the little church with the big heart," in her later years. Many of her dearest friends came from that church. She enjoyed serving as a member of the church's session, but she most enjoyed organizing Easter egg hunts for the little ones. Bonnie believed being around kids keeps a person young at heart. Her favorite young people were her grandkids, Ali and Mark Gentry.
Living with lymphoma and Parkinson's Disease for her final 12 years, Bonnie still enjoyed and appreciated life. She fit in as many trips to Europe with John as her health would allow and adored Venice, Paris, Rome, and Bruges.
As the spouse of a Korean War veteran, Bonnie will be laid to rest at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Her brother, Bobby, a Vietnam veteran, is buried there (see Find A Grave memorial 152934381). A Celebration of Life will take place in June because she would have wanted her family to be ready to smile again and share funny memories.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to one of Bonnie's favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or an organization that helps animals.
Bonnie is survived by her husband of 55 years, John, and her daughters, Shary Gentry (John), of Coppell, TX and Dyan Taylor-Harris (Tony) of Brandon, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alison Taylor Gentry of Cambridge, MA and Mark Christopher Gentry of Coppell, TX. Bonnie was also close to her many Pittsburgh cousins and loved her husband's nieces in Syracuse, NY.
Services at Bay Pines National Cemetery will be posted soon.
Brandon Cremation & Funeral Home
Born to Bob and Elna Dow on August 2, 1943, Bonnie Jean Dow grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She met her husband, John Robert Taylor, while working at the H.J. Heinz Company, and Bonnie described her years of marriage as "the best 55 years of my life."
When their identical twin daughters, Shary and Dyan, were three, Bonnie and John made the bold decision to leave Pennsylvania and move to Florida. Such a change might have frightened many, but not extroverted, adventuresome Bonnie.
When Bonnie entered a room, it was hard for others to get in a word or to hold in a laugh. Her energy was contagious. If an animal was injured or in need of a home, she brought it to hers. She made sacrifices to ensure her daughters had an excellent education and even sold hot dogs with John on the weekends when the girls were little to be able to send them to a safe, strong school.
Her presence was felt in all of the schools her daughters attended. Bonnie spent hours volunteering as Parents' Club President, Auction Chair, Picture Lady, Friend of the Library, field trip chaperone, and swim team mom. She felt especially connected at then-quirky, laid-back Tampa Prep.
Raised Presbyterian, Bonnie had grown disillusioned by many churches until she found The Presbyterian Church of Seffner, known as "the little church with the big heart," in her later years. Many of her dearest friends came from that church. She enjoyed serving as a member of the church's session, but she most enjoyed organizing Easter egg hunts for the little ones. Bonnie believed being around kids keeps a person young at heart. Her favorite young people were her grandkids, Ali and Mark Gentry.
Living with lymphoma and Parkinson's Disease for her final 12 years, Bonnie still enjoyed and appreciated life. She fit in as many trips to Europe with John as her health would allow and adored Venice, Paris, Rome, and Bruges.
As the spouse of a Korean War veteran, Bonnie will be laid to rest at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Her brother, Bobby, a Vietnam veteran, is buried there (see Find A Grave memorial 152934381). A Celebration of Life will take place in June because she would have wanted her family to be ready to smile again and share funny memories.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to one of Bonnie's favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or an organization that helps animals.
Bonnie is survived by her husband of 55 years, John, and her daughters, Shary Gentry (John), of Coppell, TX and Dyan Taylor-Harris (Tony) of Brandon, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alison Taylor Gentry of Cambridge, MA and Mark Christopher Gentry of Coppell, TX. Bonnie was also close to her many Pittsburgh cousins and loved her husband's nieces in Syracuse, NY.
Services at Bay Pines National Cemetery will be posted soon.
Brandon Cremation & Funeral Home
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