Maudie Taylor

Maudie Mae Nickels Leslie Henson Taylor

From June 13, 1921, Blanchard Oklahoma

To June 8, 2013, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Maudie Mae Nickels Leslie Henson Taylor “flew away” to be with her Lord on June 8, 2013 after hip surgery and a short illness. Earlier this spring she had returned from a hospitalization to her home in Noble where she truly enjoyed living with the support of her loving neighbor, Bea Moody, friends, and daughters.

Maudie worked at always putting God first in her life. Her spiritual connection to God was the driving force in her life. She sought to always follow the Christian values that guided her life. We can rejoice in her success of being a Christian role model for all who knew her.

She was devoted to her family: as a child and adult to her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins; as a sister to her siblings; as a mother and grandmother; as a step-mother and step-grandmother; and of course to her three husbands whom she cherished.

Maudie was born to Kay Osborn Nickels and Liddie Knight Nickels on June 13, 1921 near Blanchard Oklahoma. Maudie graduated from Bridgecreek High School in 1939 and Lake Merritte School of Business in Oakland California. She worked as a librarian, assistant to the superintendent, and substitute teacher in Tuttle Oklahoma.

She married Thomas Cecil Leslie on May 18, 1943 and was married for 42 years when Cecil died in a weather-related boating accident on October 7, 1985. She and Cecil owned and operated a grocery store in Tecumseh Oklahoma and owned and managed a dairy farm south of Noble from 1959 until they retired in 1973.

On April 13, 1990, she married Floyd Ray Henson and was married for 8 ½ years when he died on December 4, 1998. She married Junior Taylor on November 26, 2002 and was married for 5 years until his death on December 4, 2007.

She was extremely close to her only sister, Gin (Virginia) and her husband Jiggs (who was Cecil’s brother). Their children, Kay Ensign, Paige Porter, and Joe Leslie and their families were like “bonus” children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Maudie was baptized into Christ’s family in 1931 at Tuttle Oklahoma. Although she was a member of the Church in each town where she lived, she came to call the Noble Church of Christ her home (for 54 years), where she was a devoted member of the Ladies Bible Study Class (leading the group for several years), coordinated the get-well and condolence card ministry, taught in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, participated in Ladies Night Out, worked in the clothing house ministry, served on the visitation team for the elderly and sick, and the prison ministry team, helped prepare and distribute Christmas fruit baskets, coordinated food for grieving families, and was a member of the singing group for funeral services.

She enthusiastically assisted with special needs that arose within her church family and community. She was lead by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And when in doubt, she suggested to “do more than your fair share.” She supported the ministries of Tipton Children’s Home, Westview Boys Home, In Search of the Lord’s Way, World Radio, Power of Prayer, and domestic and foreign missionaries. She was a daily bible reader.

Maudie was also active in her community. She was involved in the Canada School District ’s extracurricular activities and enjoyed the Box Suppers, sporting events, Christmas stocking stuffers. She was a 4-H parent leader and assisted her daughters and community children prepare for contests and fairs. She was involved in county and state leadership programs for 4-H and the County Extension Program. She served as a judge at county fairs, and she was a member of the Busy Bee Homemaker’s Club for more than 30 years.

Maudie was honored with the Homemaker of the Year award in 1979. She served on the Election Board for 25 years. After she consistently provided exemplarily bookkeeping records for their Farmers’ Home Administration (FHA) loan for their farm south of Noble, she served on the FHA Loan Committee. She and her family were awarded Farm Family of the Year in 1970.

She loved to garden (flowers and vegetables). She often shared vegetables and beautifully arranged flowers with those she thought might enjoy them. She also liked reading, sewing, and making her modest houses “homes”. Traveling, especially if it involved visiting with family members, was one of her great pleasures. She was always welcoming with a cup of coffee and snacks for anyone who stopped by to visit. She continually tried to make people feel comfortable around her. She had a genuine smile and laughed at herself easily and frequently.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, brother, Clifford Nickels, her brother-in-law, Jiggs (Wallace) Leslie and numerous cousins and in-laws. She is survived by her daughters and their families: Delbert & Linda Leslie Simmons and Thomas, of Oklahoma City; Debi Leslie Bocar of Oklahoma City and Shira & Leina of New York City; and Jim & Gaye Leslie Anderson of Stillwater Oklahoma and Steven and his wife Emily of Washington D.C. & Lauren of Cambridge Massachusetts.

She is also survived by her sister, Virginia (Gin) of Noble Oklahoma, and her brother Larry and Francis Nickels of Wichita Kansas, as well as many nieces and nephews. Additional survivors include her stepchildren and their families: (Floyd Henson’s children): Janelle Carmichael of Springfield Missouri; Janice & Edward Myers of Searcy Arkansas; Gretta & Ed Saunders of Noble Oklahoma; and (Junior Taylor’s children): Linda Taylor; Eddie & Gina Taylor; Jan & Rick Byrant, of Noble Oklahoma.

Maudie led a rich and full life in Christ with her family and many friends. We mourn her passing, and we can joyously celebrate her life and how as a Christian she uniquely influenced and touched each of us.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations to be sent to:

Noble church of Christ

111 North Main Street

Noble, Ok 73068