Eleanor Jean Taylor

She was born in Providence, RI on September 7, 1926, to Kenneth B. Dore, Sr. and Edna Kingsley Dore. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold M. Taylor, Jr.; her brothers, Donald Dore and Kenneth B. Dore, Jr.; two children, Jacquelyn Taylor and Robert Chase Taylor; and grandson, Nathaniel Anthony Taylor. She is survived by six children: Jean Marie Taylor of Williamsburg, Frederick D. Taylor and his wife, Theresa, of Canton, CT, Leslie A. Taylor and her partner, Tom Silva, of San Francisco, CA, Nicholas R. Taylor and his wife, Etsuko, of Tokyo, Japan, Mark K. Taylor of Laurel, MD, and Anthony Taylor and his wife, Eileen, of Burtonsville, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Taylor K. Peet, Julie S. Peet, Molly A. Peet, and William A. Peet, all of Williamsburg, and Anna E. Taylor of Burtonsville, MD; great-grandchildren, Raleigh E. Elder-Peet and Emilee E. Hicks; and seven nieces and nephews and their families.

Eleanor graduated from Cranston High School, Edgeworth Secretarial School, and attended classes at Winsted Community College. Growing up in Cranston, RI, she was a bit of a tomboy and enjoyed sailing on Narragansett Bay.

Eleanor raised her family in Cranston, RI and Tariffville, CT. As her children grew older, she had several part-time jobs including newspaper carrier, bartender, office assistant, mail carrier, and postal employee. In 1995, she retired from the East Granby post office and moved to Williamsburg to be closer to family.

During her retirement in Williamsburg, she volunteered for many years as a tax preparer for the AARP Tax Aid program and as a poll worker in James City County. She particularly enjoyed events and trips sponsored by the Senior Lounge at the JCC Recreation Center.

After suffering a severe illness in 2017, she moved to Edgeworth Park Assisted Living and, in 2020, to Patriots Colony Convalescent Center. Her favorite activity at Patriots Colony was Bingo, and she was especially fond of Laura Wyatt, the Activities Director. She was interested in all her grandchildren’s activities and had plenty of advice to give. Even though she was wheelchair bound, hearing impaired, and blind at the end of her life, she remained feisty, firm in her opinions, and determined to be her own person. She was also sweet and loving with her family and grateful for their care.

A service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Nelsen Funeral home, Williamsburg, Virginia at 2:00 PM with a reception to follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.