Catherine Ross Sheppard "Cathy" Taylor

Catherine Ross Sheppard “Cathy” Taylor, age 89, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ with family by her side on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. She lived life to the fullest on earth up until her dancing in heaven began. Catherine was born in Andalusia, Alabama on June 24, 1930 to Carrie and John Sheppard. She was one of two hearing daughters born to deaf parents. Catherine grew up in Oak Cliff and attended Crozier Tech High School where she was valedictorian of the class of 1946 and went on to study business at UTA. Catherine married the love of her life, Joe Morgan Taylor, in 1948 at First Baptist of Oak Cliff. Cathy and Joe had three children, Skipper, Cathy Jo, and Cyndi and raised them in a loving Christian home where they attended Cliff Temple Baptist Church. Cathy’s children blessed her life with 8 dear grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She was endearingly called “Nana Banana.” Cathy had a wonderful career and retired as a buyer from the Army and Airforce Exchange Headquarters in Dallas. She found the love of square and round dancing on a vacation with her late husband, Joe in 1975 on a Jeep 4-wheel drive club trip in Red River, New Mexico. They took lessons and danced until his cancer would no longer allow him to do so. After being widowed in 1979, Cathy became more active in square dancing to help ease her heartache of losing her husband of 31 years. She became a member of Swinging Singles in 1982 and declared it her home club. She served as president, and held several other offices in her club. She was honored with special awards for dedicated and devoted service and named “Square Dancer of the Year” in 1989. She also served as Area I Vice President of Nortex. She loved the joy of dancing and making many lasting friends. Her Christian faith was always very important to her and she joined the Pathfinders Class at Park Cities Baptist Church in 1982 and remained a member here. She moved to California in April 2017 to be close to her daughter, Cyndi, and family. She spent her last 27 months making special memories with her family that will be treasured forever. Cathy was well loved where she lived at Roseville Commons Independent Senior Living Community. She loved dancing at the socials, playing bingo, and her bright smile and infectious personality would light up the room. She would soon become the life of the party when she walked in. She never met a stranger and her kind heart touched many people.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, Carrie and John Sheppard, her beloved husband, Joe Morgan Taylor, her daughter Cathy Jo Speck, and her only son, Morgan Ross “Skipper” Taylor .She is survived by her youngest daughter, Cyndi Taylor Hood and her husband Jack from California. She is also survived by her only sister, Mary Etta Tapp of Garland, Texas.

Her seven granddaughters are Amy Jo Brown & her husband Mark , Alison Taylor Engelage, Laura Hood Hesse and her husband, Jon, Alicia Taylor Rowe, and Laura, Jessica, and Heather Speck, and also, her one & only grandson, Brian Taylor Hood , 9 great grandchildren, Mason and Logan Brown, Bryson Shimenas, Cameron and Curtis Dodson, Jaxon Hood, Delaney and Isaac Hesse, and Kerstyn Smith, her son in love, Jerry Speck, daughter in love, Carol Taylor, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends.

Dress casual or Hawaiian ,if you like, for the visitation with the family on Tues. August 6th from 6-8pm. at Laurel Land Funeral Home, Dallas. A celebration of her life will be on Wed., August 7th at 11:30 a.m. in the Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas. Her beloved great nephew, Mark Goode, will be officiating. Memorials can be made in her memory to Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, or the Salvation Army.

Our hearts are aching for her presence in our lives here on earth but we are comforted knowing we will see her again in eternity. Until then, just keep dancing with the angels!