Fay Taylor

East Lansing, formerly of Flint

Born July 14, 1913 to Herman and Tillie Wexler, wife for 58 years of Dr. Maurice Taylor, died April 10, 2015, at the age of 101. Her greatest accomplishment was the family she created with Maurie: her daughters, Barbara Sparks (Harvey), Bonnie Novakov Lawlor (Lawrence), and Irene Baker (Frederick); grandchildren, Matthew Sparks, Wendy Sparks Weber (James), Harvey “Skip” Sparks (Lou), Catherine Sparks, Mikhaila Reudink (nee’ Barg) (Mark), Amy LaBarge (nee’Barg) (Pierre), Sylvia Novakov, Jessica Pavone (nee’Baker) (Billy) and Jordan Snead (nee’ Baker) (Keith); and great-grandchildren, Hannah Sparks, Betsy Sparks, Michael Sparks, Aleah Sparks, Julia Flint, Annika Weber, Alexandra Weber, Noah Reudink, Nathan Reudink, Emily LaBarge, Sara LaBarge, Soula Pavone, Theodore Snead and Maxine Snead.

Fay was one of the last generation of American women who took for granted that their role was to make a home for their family. She had a discerning eye for beauty and kept an immaculate home, in which delicious meals were a matter of course, fresh clothing simply appeared in closets and drawers, sparkling windows looked out upon flowered beds, and candy dishes were always filled and at hand. Fay loved a good game of bridge almost as much as she loved a party, which she excelled at giving, often with her beloved sister Sophie Gorne, who lived only a few doors away in a neighborhood filled with dear friends and relatives, all of whom she outlived, to her dismay. She was an avid and retentive reader, a student of politics and current affairs and a life-long political progressive. She maintained close and loving relationships with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to which she showed great generosity. She was, in her time, a much-admired beauty.

A friend sent Maurie to look her up when they were at school, and, as she put it, “He came to me then and he never left until the day of his death at age 82. He was a remarkable and talented man, and a generous loving husband and father.” And Fay was his wife and the mother of his children, to whom she imparted, we hope with success, her good taste and judgement.

A funeral service will be held Monday, April 13, 2015, noon at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing with Rabbi Karen Companez officiating. Interment will be Tuesday, 11:00 am, Flint Memorial Park in Mt. Morris, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift in memory of Fay to Hospice Advantage of Lansing, 801 S. Waverly Road, Ste. 304, Lansing, MI 48917, the World Wildlife Fund, Attn: Member Services, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, or the charity of your choice.

On line condolences may be made at

www.greastlansing.com