Erna Mae (Cooper) Taylor

Erna Mae (Cooper) Taylor, 85, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born on June 21, 1927, in Callaway County, the daughter of the late Paul and Valerie (Walker) Cooper. She was married on June 9, 1946, to George Monroe Taylor Sr., who died on September 16, 2011. To this union four children were born, all whom survive; George M. Taylor, Jr. (Gail) of Pasadena, Calif., Paul W. Taylor, Sr. of Las Vegas, Nev., Lois A. Sanders (Roy) of Kansas City, Mo., and Elston H. Taylor, Sr. (Katherine) of St. Louis, Mo. She was preceded in death by her late sister, Lois D. Brown, and is survived by her sister, Pauline Williams of Liberty, Mo. Mrs. Taylor was a graduate of Lincoln Lab High School in Jefferson City where she was salutatorian of her class. Her nursing career began as an LPN in 1956 at Callaway County Hospital. She also worked at Ellis Fischel Cancer Hospital in Columbia and Fulton State Hospital. She served as Director of Nursing at Kingdom Nursing Home. She later received her RN degree from Lincoln University in 1974. As an RN, she was employed as an instructor in nursing education at Fulton State Hospital, consultant and in-service director at Presbyterian Manor Nursing Home, Kingdom Nursing Home, and Fulton Manor Care Center. Mrs. Taylor ended her nursing career as an instructor for the Mexico Vocational Technical School of Nurse Aides. Erna united with St. James United Methodist Church at the age of 11. As a teenager, she served as a Sunday School teacher and was a member of the Junior Usher Board and Junior Choir. She later served as a member of the Senior and Ladies Chorus, President and Vice President of the United Methodist Women, was a certified Lay Speaker, and a member of the Willing Workers Circle. Other survivors include: grandchildren, Paul Taylor Jr., Andrea Taylor, Valerie Lue, Elston Taylor Jr., Royce Taylor, Donnie Lue, Brandon Taylor, Gemia Tayor, and Gianna Taylor; 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Anna Belle Branham; nephews and niece, Sylvia Brown; and a host of many loving family members and friends. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m., on Friday, December 7, 2012, at St. James United Methodist Church in Fulton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the church. Interment will follow at Callaway Memorial Gardens. Food donations can be taken to Sir Winston's. Condolences can be sent by visiting www.debofuneralhome.com.