Rose Mae Taylor

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rose Mae Lewis of Neshoba County, Mississippi, and Montague Eugene Taylor of Tompkinsville grew up over a thousand miles from each other, but once they met, fell in love and married they would never be far apart.

Rose Taylor died Saturday at their home in St. George, and Montague on Sunday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Rose Mae Lewis, then 18 and fresh out of Lebanon High School in Collinsville, Miss., came to Staten Island and stayed with family while she went to work as a nurse's aide at Sea View Hospital. It was there she met Montague (Monty), who had graduated from McKee High School and was working, and they became a couple on February 17, 1956, in Brighton Heights Reformed Church in St. George.

He worked at B&O Railroad, was a driver for the former Dell Ambulance, Inc., and was a limousine driver before going to work for the city Department of Sanitation. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

She graduated from the Central School for Practical Nurses, becoming a licensed practical nurse and worked for the Visiting Nurse Association and the Verrazano Nursing Home in Tompkinsville.

They lived in West Brighton, New Brighton, then settled in St. George 16 years ago.

Both rose in their professions, with Mr. Taylor becoming a foreman for Sanitation, supervising districts in Brooklyn and Manhattan and then the arrival, loading and departure of tugboats and barges at Fresh Kills.

After working a short time at Bayley Seton Hospital, Mrs. Taylor earned her associate in applied science and bachelor of science degrees in nursing from the College of Staten Island, all while raising a family, being active in their church and working full time as an registered nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Brooklyn. While there, she also designed and directed the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program.

Mr. Taylor retired from Sanitation in 1988, and Mrs. Taylor from nursing in 1997.

The Taylors were dedicated to Brighton Heights Reformed Church. She was an elder, he was an ordained deacon, and both were members of The Great Consistory. He helped start the Men's Fellowship Choir and was a member of Men's Fellowship, the Finance Committee, the History Committee, and participated during services as a greeter, usher and assisted in the collection of offerings. She sang in the Sanctuary Choir, was active in Women's Fellowship and was a past president of the ministry. She founded the BHRC Scholarship Committee, was its first president and was actively presiding at the time of her death, and was a member of the Health Education Committee.

Both were honored by the Staten Island Council of Churches for their service.

"Rose and Monty were a wonderful couple who were completely devoted to each other, to their family and to BHRC," said Joan Rannie, a longtime member of the church and a close friend. "They gave willingly and generously of their time, talents and treasure to BHRC. In 1996, when our church was destroyed by fire, Monty and Ariel Vasquez supervised the rebuilding. The entire congregation will miss their devotion, service and commitment to the church.

"We loved them dearly and they will live in our hearts forever," she said.

Mrs. Taylor was soft-spoken and quiet, laughed a little and smiled a lot, family said. She had a great sense of style; everything she wore had to be just right, and she loved to drive fast. She couldn't get enough of her grandkids. She had a soft spot for dogs and there always was a dog in the house. She loved decorating her home and talking to her plants.

Mr. Taylor was a sharp dresser, too. He was outgoing, quick-witted, with a great sense of humor and a one-of-a-kind laugh, family said. He liked doing home improvement projects and carpentry and enjoyed going on cruises and driving around the country on family vacations. He was fond of singing and liked everything about cars. He gave generously of his time, advice and talent to anyone who asked, and wasn't shy about correcting someone if the need arose.

They were amazing people, parents and grandparents, family said.

Surviving are their sons, Montague E. Jr. and Kenneth; their daughter, Vicki Darnell-Taylor Williams; her brothers, James, Benjamin, Walter, Perry Joe and Gregory Lewis; her sister, Ferlinda Faye Boose; his brother, Ariel Vasquez, and 10 grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. Arrangements are being handled by the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills.