Shirley A. Hart Taylor

Shirley was born March 20, 1924 to Ruth (Evans) and Harold G. Hart. She graduated from Ravenna High School in 1941 and was the Secretary for the class of ‘41. She started school at Kent State following graduation and married Richard W. Taylor a year later, 1942. She was a lifetime resident of Ravenna, except for a brief period during WWII, while her husband, Dick, was stationed at Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina. It was there that she began teaching and discovered her passion for education.

After the war, they returned to Ravenna, but she was not able to resume her studies at Kent State until several years later, as raising her family took top priority. She did substitute teaching in the Ravenna school system while working toward her degree. She earned dual certification in elementary and secondary education. She then taught at Tappan, West Main, West Park, and finally at Ravenna High School where she taught English and Reading. She also earned a Master of Education in Reading from Kent State. She stayed connected to many of her students over the years, and remained interested in their lives and accomplishments.

Shirley has for many years organized the annual reunions for the class of 1941. She was one of the oldest living members of the First Congregational Church of Ravenna, UCC, and she also belonged to the Junior Tuesday Club and Beta Sorosis.

Preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son Stephen and sister Betty (Hart) Theiss, she is survived by sons Richard E., of Ravenna, Bruce E. (Gail) of Monroe, Georgia, and daughter Sharon A. of Edinboro, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by grandchildren, Richard D. (Nancy), Andrew E., (Maria), Catherine Slapnicker (Gary), Kris Behel (Kevin), Bethany Courtney (Alan), Jodie Szudy (Andrew), and Hannah Taylor as well as14 great grandchildren; also, sister Margaret (Hart) Porter and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends will be received Friday, April 17, 2015, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main St., Ravenna. Funeral Services will be officiated by Reverend Jerry Kruse at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the First Congregational Church of Ravenna, United Church of Christ, 266 S. Prospect St., Ravenna. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com.