Thelma Lorene Taylor, 95, Herculaneum
Thelma Lorene Taylor, 95, of Herculaneum died Dec. 19, 2021. Mrs. Taylor worked as a cook for 20 years before retiring. In her youth, she attended the Methodist Church of Festus and after moving to Herculaneum in 1948, she was a member of Buren Chapel AME in Herculaneum. She led an active life, and after she lost her hearing and sight, her determination allowed her to continue taking part in many activities. She loved baking and cooking and was known for her pies, cakes, Aunt Essie rolls, popcorn balls and jelly. She also enjoyed canning, sewing, making quilts, knitting, crocheting, ceramics, drawing, and playing the guitar and organ. She also liked the outdoors, especially fishing, gardening and gathering mushrooms, wild greens and nuts. She also was a diehard Cardinals baseball fan. As a girl, she played on the old Douglass School softball team and boasted about hitting a home run to win a game in Sparta, Ill. She also was an author. She will be remembered for her willingness to help her church, family and community members. She was the daughter of the late Alice (Jackson) James and Jessie James Sr.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Ray R. Taylor Sr., whom she married in 1943.
She is survived by three sisters: Janet (the late Charles Sr.) James Cherry of Festus, Alice Faye (the late Ben) James Manning of Festus and Madeline (the late Caesar) James Swiney of California; two sisters-in-law: Evelyn (the late Ronnie) Zimmerman James and Jessica (the late Gene) Gill James of Topeka, Kans.; five children: Jane Taylor Turner of Phoenix, Ariz., Robert Taylor of Festus, Linda (Percy) Taylor Rockmore of Cedar Hill, Texas, Ray Taylor Jr. of Pevely and Alma Taylor Weaver of Herculaneum; 11 grandchildren: Don Taylor Jr., Dawn Griffin, Laura Leigh Taylor, Cassandra (Chris) Howze Thomas, Kristine Howze Moore, Taylor Howze, Aurielle Weaver, Branda George, Joe Alexander, Michael Delong, Lisa Tarkita Alexander-Jameson; nine great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, including special nieces Gloria (Johnny) Jackson Bequette and Donna (Albert) Smith Spicer; as well as other family members.
She also was preceded in death by a son: Don L. Taylor Sr.; a grandson: Jeremy Alexander; 10 siblings: Ronnie, Earl Donald, Charles Augustus, Cecil and Gene Richard James, Jessie James II, Sandra (James) Oliver, Patrice (James) Patton, Mary (James) Smith and Marva (James) Williams.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the funeral services at 6 p.m. today (Dec. 29) at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Burial will be in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Homes.