Ruby Wanda Shaw Taylor

Lake City -- Ruby Wanda Shaw Taylor was born October 31, 1916, at Mangrum and passed away on Monday, March 7, 2016, at Lake City. She was a direct descendent of Benjamin Shaw, who homesteaded the area in Craighead County known as Shaw Farm. At the age of seven she moved to Black Oak. At that time the country was still covered in woods, and she often told stories about accompanying her family to the "Timber Camps". She was a cousin to many of the early homesteaders, which makes her a distant cousin to many people in Craighead County today. She attended schools at Mangrum and Black Oak. In 1934 she represented Black Oak as a Princess in the parade to open the bridge over the St. Francis River in Lake City. She was fortunate enough to be in the audience at the dedication of the new bridge on April 1, 1999.

On October 14, 1939, she married William Rex Taylor, a dragline operator (heavy equipment). After a short time of following him on his job they settled permanently in Black Oak.

She spent the next thirty years of her life as a housewife and working on the farm. At age 50 she began working at American Greetings in Osceola, and worked there until she retired at age 65. After retirement she did a lot of crocheting names onto doilies. She did these for people living in many different places across the United States. She enjoyed attending the meetings of the Black Oak Home Demonstration Club. She was excited about the dresses this group sewed for girls who would not have a new dress for Easter, and excited about the Recipe books the Club compiled.

Five years ago she moved to Westminister Village at Blytheville, and lived there until she became sick on June 2, 2015. Since June 7, 2015, she has resided at Lakeside Nursing and Rehab Facility in Lake City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Rex Taylor; one son, Larry Jerome Taylor; one granddaughter Alison Diane Taylor; her parents Marshall Jones Shaw and Minerva Jane "Jenny" Huggins Shaw; two brothers Charles M. Brock and Albert A. Flatt; and three sisters, Eula Shaw Dickens, Mary Shaw Chaffin, and Zadie Flatt Stevens.

She is survived by a daughter Sondra Taylor Hayhurst and her husband John William "Jack" Hayhurst of Amherst, New York, and Melbourne, Florida; one stepson Billie Rex Taylor and his wife Norma Jean Ford Taylor of Ozark, Mo.; one daughter-in-law Marcia Elizabeth Denton Taylor of Blytheville; three grandsons Rex Val Taylor and his wife Denise Ann Roberts Taylor of Allen, Texas, Craig Taylor Meyer and his wife Kimberly Austell Meyer of Lyles, Tenn., and Philip Denton Taylor and his wife Amy Yankee Taylor of Blytheville; three granddaughters Dana Ann Taylor Gray of Ozark, Mo., Jana Kay Taylor Bowline and her husband Troy Bowline of Ozark, Mo., and Carla Renee Taylor Stephens and her husband Kenneth Lloyd Stevens of Springfield, Mo. She is survived by six great-grandsons Cade David Taylor of Blytheville, Chris Taylor Meyer and Dillon James Meyer of Lyles, Tenn., Brandon Cole Gray of Ozark, Mo., and Shane Lloyd Stephens and Devin William Stephens of Springfield, Mo.; and five great-granddaughters Lauren Alexis Taylor of Blytheville, Lauren Ashley Bowline Fann and her husband Justin Fann of Ozark, Mo., Callie Nicole Bowline of Ozark, Mo., Laura Ann Taylor Nickell and her husband Neil Nickell of Rowlett, Texas, and Amy Beth Taylor McBroom and her husband Eddy McBroom of Allen, Texas.

She is also survived by one nephew Jimmy Stevens of Trumann; two nieces Betty Stevens Woodard of Canton, Miss., and Mary Katherine Chaffin Logsdon of Homer Glen, Ill.; one special cousin Paul Taylor and his wife Madge of Caraway. Also, two step-grandsons Wayne Sanders and his family of Houston, Texas, and Derrick Hayhurst and his family of Franklin, N.C. One very special friend Joyce Whitten of Black Oak; one brother-in-law Fred Taylor of Greenfield, Mo., and three sisters-in-law Dixie Taylor Crouch and Audrey Taylor of Greenfield, Mo., and Mary Taylor Raley of Mussel Shoals, Ala.

The family thanks Dr. Stepanuk, Dr. Mason, Joyce, and Regina at Great River Medical for their kindness, professionalism, and efficiency. They also thank all those at Lakeside Nursing who cared for her in her final months.

Anyone wishing to leave a Memorial is asked to consider Crowley's Ridge Academy, 606 Academy Drive, Paragould, Arkansas 72450 or Crowley's Ridge College, 100 College Drive, Paragould, Arkansas 72450.

A graveside service was held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Monette Memorial Cemetery with a memorial service held at 2:00 p.m. at Black Oak Church of Christ under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home of Monette.

Online: www.mcnabbfuneralhomes.com