Shirley Marie Taylor

Born on May 26, 1939, to her parents, Cecil and Irene Williams, in Gatesville, Texas, Shirley was the eldest of three siblings. After high school, Shirley chose to pursue a career in education, graduating with honors from Texas Wesleyan University. She earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Texas. She devoted 36 years to enriching and broadening the young minds of Kindergarten and First-Grade Students. Her focus was to make every child feel seen and inspired to learn.

On October 23rd, 1959, she married the love of her life, Richard Taylor. They were married for 66 wonderful years. Shirley said she couldn’t have asked for a better partner in life or a better father for her children. Together, they enjoyed a life filled with family vacations, dance classes, game nights with friends, and they raised two sons she was immensely proud of.

Shirley had a passion for learning throughout her life, and her interests were varied: reading, birdwatching, gardening, painting, travel, attending plays with her great-grandchildren, and quilting. She had an admirable strength of spirit and a deep abiding love for her family. And in turn, she was a deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and was cherished by a host of friends. We will treasure her memory yet feel her absence forever.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Richard Taylor, her eldest son and daughter-in-law, Scot and Crystal Taylor, her son and daughter-in-law, Derek and Jennifer Taylor, two grandchildren, Amanda Kellis and Zachary Taylor, three great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Kellis, Adelaide Kellis, and Sophia Kellis, her sister, Linda Allgood, and brother, Cecil Williams Jr.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Irene Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in honor of Shirley to Cook Children’s Health Foundation.

https://foundation.cookchildrens.org/site/Donation2?4020.donation=form1&df_id=4020&mfc_pref=T&s_src=FoundationWebsite&s_subsrc=DonateButton

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 22nd, from 5 to 7 pm at Laurel Land Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76134.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 23rd at 10 am at Laurel Land Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Rd, Fort Worth, TX 7613, in the Chapel of Chimes, with a committal service to follow.