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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Barbara M. Taylor
Barbara M.
Taylor
March 31, 1929 – August 31, 2014
Barbara M. Taylor's Obituary
Barbara M. Taylor, 85, a prominent citizen, former business owner and community volunteer of Paris, Illinois passed away on August 31, 2014, at Paris Community Hospital.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 3
rd
, from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm at Stewart & Carroll Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at Stewart and Carroll Thursday, September 4
th
at 11:00 am, the Reverend Michael C. Dixon conducting, with burial to follow at Edgar Cemetery.
Barbara was the owner/operator of Inn Fashions, a women's fine fashions retail store on West Court Street, for 20 years from 1969 to 1989. Prior to opening Inn Fashions Barb was known for her volunteer efforts becoming a 4-H leader of Merrie Maidens in 1959 and then Pine Grove Handy Helpers in the 1960s. Barb was an impressive seamstress and tailor. She won honors in the Vogue Sewing contest sponsored by the Paris Women's Club. She competed at the state level where she took honors in 1959 and 1961. Some of her volunteer efforts include fashion shows for the Paris Women's club, fund raising to support the Hanger, the annual Mental Health Charity Ball, and events at the former Sycamore Hills Country Club. She was an active member of the Women's Golf Association. She was active in the Downtown Merchants Association and helped to renew the downtown retail space and promote local businesses. Barb was also known for being a fine cook and hostess. Barb was an avid gardener and she and her husband traveled extensively. Barb was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Paris.
She was born Barbara Mary Smith to the late Maudie Loretta (Cutler) and Broadwell Martin Smith on March 30, 1929 in Watervliet, Michigan. Her parents owned and ran a fruit farm and greenhouse/flower shop in Covert. Barbara graduated from Covert High School in 1947, valedictorian of her class. She attended Michigan State University for Home Economics and Fashion from fall of 1947 to spring of 1949. While working in the MSU cafeteria, supporting her education, she met Ray Taylor. They were married in the Mary-Sabine Chapel of the Central Methodist Church in Lansing, MI on Easter Sunday, April 17th, 1949. After Ray graduated from MSU Veterinarian school in the spring of 1950 they lived in West Lafayette, Indiana. In December 1950, they relocated to make Paris their permanent home.
Barb is survived by her husband, Dr Ray Taylor, their 3 daughters and a son: Sherry (Dennis) Miller of Grand Island, NY; Cindy (Bernie) Cash of Norman, OK; Gary (Mary) Taylor of Paris, IL; and Holly (Ken) Paul of Fuquay Varina, NC. 7 grandchildren: Heather Cash, Ryan (Gretchen) Cash, Samantha Miller, Katherine Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, David (Allison) Paul and Brian Paul; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gailen (Wendi) Smith of Snowmass, CO. She was preceded in death by her sister, Loa Jean (Alan) Murray.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to First Christian Church.
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