Joy E. Taylor

Joy Ellen Taylor, age 75, passed away in Hendrick Medical Center on March 12, 2010. Joy was born June 19, 1934, in Rockwall, Texas. She was the daughter of H.E. and Altha Meazell. Joy was a 1951 graduate of Tyler High School. On May 19, 1951, she married Robert A. Taylor in Tyler, Texas. They were stationed in Patuxent River, Maryland where she was a Navy wife four years.

Joy was a resident of Abilene for 42 years. In addition to being a homemaker, she was known in the Abilene community for her 14 year career at Therapeikos, a counseling center and adoption agency. She also worked as an administrative assistant for R.T. Petroleum and Land Service.

Joy was a very creative woman, winning awards in photography at the West Texas Fair and in city competitions. She was a talented quilter, scrapbook crafter, writer, and jewelry maker. She created “Beads of Joy” necklaces and recently wrote a children’s book, Timothy Tortoise, illustrated by her granddaughter, Katharine Houpt.

Joy was a member of Oldham Lane Church of Christ where she was active in “Monday Night for the Master”. She formerly attended 16th and Vine Church of Christ where she was active in the bus ministry and taught Sunday School for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her son, Stephen Alan Taylor.

Joy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert A. Taylor of Abilene; daughter, Sherry Houpt and husband, Stephen, of Dallas; sons, Kevin Taylor and wife, Kelly, of Abilene, Mark Taylor and wife, Grace, of Benbrook, and “adopted” son, Steve Williamson of Midland, Texas. Joy was blessed with nine grandchildren, Jessica Kaiser (husband, Chris) of Alexandria, Virginia, Katharine Houpt of Chicago, Illinois, McKenzie Robinson (husband, Kelby) of Abilene, Kendall Taylor of Abilene, Kameran Taylor of Abilene, Nicholas Taylor of Abilene, and Landon, Reid, and Ella Grace Taylor of Benbrook. She had two great-grandchildren, Toby Kaiser and Kanyon Robinson.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday in Elliott-Hamil Chapel of Faith, 5701 Highway 277 South, with Chris McCurley officiating. Burial will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 209 South Danville, Bldg. B, Suite 109, Abilene, Texas 79605.