Elizabeth J. Taylor

Elizabeth Josslyn Taylor of Niantic passed away peacefully in her home on November 9th. Born on March 12, 1920 in Portland, Maine, Betty was the oldest of 5 sisters. Valedictorian of her class at Deering High School, she was a violinist with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and went on to graduate from Westbrook Junior College. Betty was active with the Rainbow Girls and met her husband, Ronald Taylor, at a dance for Rainbow Girls and Demolay Boys.

Betty and Ron married on November 1, 1941, and moved to Waterford and to Niantic shortly after. In 1956 they relocated to Ottumwa, Iowa, and then to Reading, Massachusetts, before happily returning to Niantic in 1963.

Betty was determined to have a career, and went to work for Olive Chendali in the East Lyme Town Clerk's office. She enjoyed sharing her name with a famous movie star, so she thought it was great when Esther Williams joined the Town Clerk's office. Betty continued as Assistant Town Clerk until her retirement in 1988. She also sold real estate and was the recording secretary for both the Board of Selectmen and the Zoning Commission for many years.

In addition to her professional activities, Betty was very active in the community. She was a long-time member of the East Lyme Women's Club as well as active in bridge and book clubs and was a past member of the East Lyme Garden Club and Republican Women's Club, a former Worthy Matron of the Nehantic Chapter of the Eastern Star, and was the leader of a Girl Scouts troop. More recently she was Secretary of the Gorton Lake Association.

Betty will be very missed by her sister, Connie Cushman of Portland, Maine, brothers-in-law Allen Winslow of Belfast, Maine and Russell Meade of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and her children, Allan and Karen Taylor of Niantic, Jocelyn and Charlie Barbour of Arlington, Virginia, Joanne Taylor of New York City, and Lisa and Mark Skutnik of Yonkers, New York. Her family also includes beloved grandchildren Todd and Tara Taylor of Guilford, Rob and Kelly Taylor of Waterford, Sarah and Mike Lebov of Milford, Jason Barbour of Honolulu, Ann Barbour of Arlington, Virginia, and Haley and Kim Klatzkin of Brooklyn, NY as well as cherished great-grandchildren, Jack, Lily, Gavin, Jake, Chloe, Danika and Barrett.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30AM on Thursday, November 21, at the Niantic Community Church. A reception will be held at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut would be greatly appreciated.