Virginia Elizabeth Marshall Taylor

Virginia, 97, passed away on May 19, 2010. She was born July 9, 1912, in San Antonio, TX. Virginia was the oldest child and only girl of three children born to Lester Ray and Hulda Emma Haller Marshall. She was preceded in death by her parents and devoted husband, James T. Taylor, of 51 years; her brothers Lester Ray Marshall II and wife Marion; James T. Marshall and wife Bessie; and Virginia's beloved dog, Bitsy, of 17 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Arthur R. Mahavier and wife Barbara, Charlotte Smith and husband Ed, Darrell Taylor and wife Diana; grandchildren Shannon Mason and husband Tom, Vicki Breeding and husband Brian; Patti Karshis and husband Pat, Cheryl Sugg and husband Mark, Michele Weber and husband Kurt, and Scott Taylor and wife Lisa; great-grandchildren Trey and Allison Sugg, Andrew and Karis Weber, Jolie Karshis, Lauren and Kate Taylor; nieces Diana Marshall and Ann Scott; and nephew Ray Marshall.

Virginia and Tillman raised their three children in San Antonio in the same neighborhood where Virginia and many of her extended family members lived and grew up. Their leisure time was spent fishing, swimming, boating, and relaxing in their cabin at Medina Lake. They loved fishing mostly at night and many times depending on whether or not the fish were biting did not return back to the cabin until after midnight. Tillman would clean the fish while Virginia would make a pot of coffee and heat up the cinnamon rolls. In the morning, Tillman would cook a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and coffee. Breakfast was served on a screened-in porch so they could watch the deer as they came in to feed. Nothing pleased Virginia more, and she was at her utmost happiest, when fishing with her husband on Medina Lake near San Antonio.

In the summertime, Virginia and Tillman loved spending time at the cabin with their grandkids as "Mimi and Papaw." They also enjoyed entertaining family and friends at Medina Lake or in their home. Their menu usually consisted of fish and fries or Tillman's legendary hamburgers and fries.

Virginia and Tillman loved planning and decorating for their annual open house Christmas Eve party. Everyone would bring a different delicious dish of their choice. There was always plenty of food, music, fun, and laughter, but most of all, there was always lots of love for all.

From the very day they met through their fifty-one years of marriage, Virginia and Tillman enjoyed dancing to their favorite music of the big band era, and were members of several dance clubs.

Virginia was an active member of the Daughters & Wives of the Old Trail Drivers of Texas.

Virginia and Tillman were active members at St. John's Methodist Church in San Antonio.

After Tillman's death in 1988, Virginia continued to live her life with zest and with a child-like curiosity and imagination. She had a talent for writing poetry, and kept a daily ledger of her personal memoirs, philosophies and insights. Carrying on her own mother's practice, Virginia was an avid reader of books on exercise, good health and positive thinking. She loved animals and had a special affection for parakeets, whom she taught to speak.

In 1960, she and daughter Charlotte formed a monthly bunco club, which was active for 41 years, and which was mostly made up of family members. After 50 years, family members are still meeting to play bunco, but now only once a year at Christmastime.

In April 2005, Virginia moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, to live with her daughter Charlotte and son-in-law Ed.

In June2006, Virginia moved to Pleasant Valley Living Center in Little Rock. Because of her love for dancing, while at Pleasant Valley Living Center she acquired the title of "the dancing lady." All who knew her there and attended to her needs loved her and spoke of her sweet and uncomplaining ways.

She was a loving and wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy was found in the affections of her family. She loved nothing better than being outdoors, experiencing God's natural beauty, and expressed some of her deepest feelings in poetry. She had an undying spirit and a childlike quality that loved to have fun. She taught her children to be good citizens and to have good moral values.

She is leaving an enormous void that can never be filled.

Thanks, Mom, for everything. We love you and will miss you forever.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 25, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

SERVICE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2010

1:00 P.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Arkansas Hospice, c/o St. Vincent's Doctor's Hospital, 6101 St. Vincent's Circle, Floor 2C, Little Rock, AR 72205 501-552-6274.