 West Hill Cemetery Sherman, Texas  Dorothy Mae Park Taylor 27 November 1924 - 19 June 2009 Kenneth Gray Taylor 14 July 1924 - 25 February 1978 wed 27 September 1943   Kenneth G. Taylor 14 July 1924 - 25 February 1978 TEC5 US Army WWII  The Herald Democrat June 21, 2009 Dorothy Mae Taylor, 84, long time Sherman resident, passed away at Lewisville Medical Center on June 19, 2009. Services were held Monday, June 22, 2009 at Waldo Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Albert Fisher of Key Memorial United Methodist Church officiating and Rev. Billy Wilder assisting. Burial followed in West Hill Cemetery. Dorothy was born in Sherman Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1924. She was the youngest child of Robert Lee Park and Mary Melvina Compton Park. At the age of 6 weeks in 1925, Dorothy moved to Bonham, where she spent her childhood. At the age of 3, Dorothy attended the "free Kindergarten" provided to the Cotton Mill employees, for 3 years. She attended Stephenson Elementary School for 3 years and Duncan Elementary through 7th grade. She graduated from Bonham High School May 27, 1943. Dorothy was an active member of Clark Memorial Methodist Church in Bonham. After graduation she moved to Sherman and worked as a long distance telephone operator for Texas Telephone Co. in 1943. Dorothy married Kenneth Taylor on September 27, 1943 while he was home on leave from Army duty. The two were married in the home of Rev. Ben. F. Milam, known as "The Marryin Parson." Dorothy then moved to live with her husband until he was transferred in 1944. At that time Dorothy returned to Bonham, later she followed Kenneth to the various Army camp locations including Abilene and Neosho, Missouri. Dorothy returned to Sherman when Kenneth left for San Francisco to be stationed on a Hospital Troop Transport Ship "Sea Fiddler", making trips to the Pacific Islands where his ship was attacked by suicide bombers (where Kenneth earned 2 Bronze Stars) and eventually back thru the Panama Canal, making trips to and from Europe. In May 1945 she began her volunteer career, serving as a Camp Fire Girl leader for 6 years and also PTA officer positions at Washington Elementary. In 1978 Dorothy became a volunteer at Medical Plaza Hospital where she served many years and even 2 years as president of the Hospital Auxiliary. She also joined the Sundowners Home Demonstration Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. Dorothy served in almost all officer positions in the Auxiliary. She was elected president of the American Legion Auxiliary and served 6 different times from 1988 to 1998. She was awarded Honorary Life Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary. Dorothy belonged to the American Legions Auxiliary Unit 29 in Sherman. Dorothy, Juanita Montgomery and Helen Ritchie were a dynamic trio in organizing events, attending conventions and promoting the ideal of American Legion Auxiliary. In 2006 Dorothy moved to Lewisville to live closer to her family. She was a resident of Vista Ridge Nursing Home & Rehab. She was elected 2 times to sderve as President of the Resident's Counsil. She was also an active member of in the Vista Ridge Red Hat Society. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her oldest brother, Willie "Bill" Robert Park of Dallas; brother, Sydney Lee Park; sister, Annie Bell Park Rogers; brother, Walter Derling Park, all of Bonham; and brother-in-law, Billy Joe Taylor of Denison. She is survived by daughter, Kathy Taylor O'Donnell and husband, Robert "Bob" J. O'Donnell of Denison; granddaughter, Michelle Kelly O'Donnell of Denison; special cousin, Hazel Rodriguez of Stockton, California; sister-in-law, Ruth Taylor of Denison; and sister-in-law, Rosa Lee Park of Bonham; and nieces and nephews. West Hill Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |