Carolyn Taylor Thayer

Monroe, Va. Carolyn Taylor Thayer, 85, of Monroe, Virginia, died on June 9, 2017 at Lynchburg General Hospital after a long illness. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of Herbert N and Bernice Coffey Taylor. Carolyn was a 1950 graduate of Washington and Lee High School in Arlington, Va. She went on to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, majoring in advertising. She was a wonderful artist with oils as her medium of choice, and watercolors in her later years. She had taken art lessons from renowned artist Richard Lahey, in exchange for sitting for a portrait that was displayed at the Corcoran Gallery for some time. While at Pratt, she met her husband Dana C Thayer. They married in 1954 at Skyland Farm in Monroe, Va. After a brief time as an Air Force wife, they returned to Brooklyn, where Dana completed his education. They moved to Monroe in 1975 where they established Dana C. Thayer Industrial Design Inc. She and Dana enjoyed traveling and saw much of the world. Family was always of utmost importance to Carolyn, which includes 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. She is survived by her husband, Dana C. Thayer of Monroe, Va; daughters Kathleen Paup (Sam) of Monroe, Va; Deborah Thayer (Mitch) of Tallassee, Al; and Roxanne Spittle (Richard) of Meherrin, Va. She is also survived by her sister, Suzanne Gouyer of Monroe, Va. A memorial service will be held at Bethany United Methodist Church, on High Peak Road in Monroe on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 2 pm. The family will receive friends following the service at the Fellowship Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration for donations be made to the Monelison Rescue Squad, P O Box 56, Madison Heights, Va. 24572. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.whittenmonelison.com.