Merlene Lois Taylor

Merlene Lois Taylor was born October 2nd, 1933 to Marvin and Olive Hendrick. She went home to be with the Lord, and the love of her life, her husband Sherwood, September 11th, 2026. She passed peacefully in her home, surrounded by the love of the family she tended like her beautiful garden, with fierce pride, unconditional love and tender care.

She is preceded in death by her doting husband, Otis Sherwood Taylor (May 4th, 2017), and brothers Marvin “Bug” Hendrick (January 3rd, 2005) and William “Bill” Hendrick (December 24th, 2016).

She is survived by her devoted sister, Donna Davids; her 4 loving children, Ricky Taylor (Barbara), Sherlene Jones (Ken), Suzanne Taylor, her faithful caregiver and companion, and Mark Taylor; her six adoring grandchildren, Daniel Taylor, Mark Taylor Jr., Cortney Jones-Norman, Rachael Shimko, Lindsey Jones-Valvo, and Kelsey Jones; and two great grandchildren Anastasia Jones and Alice Valvo.

Merlene leaves behind more than just her family— she leaves us with the precious gift of a legacy of laughter, unwavering love and unshakeable devotion in all things, but above all, in her faith. She leaves us with a legacy of childhood memories lovingly tucked away to remember simpler times with her children and grandchildren; of well-loved, handwritten cookbooks collected and used with great care over an entire lifetime to feed the family she so dearly adored, and a painstakingly cultivated garden full of beautiful flowers and chirping little songbirds who will remember her kindness to them as sure as the sun rose every day.

Services will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens once the family can all be together to honor their matriarch in the manner in which she deserves.