Sara Ross Taylor Evansville, Indiana Obituary

Sara Ross Taylor

Sara Ross Taylor, 90, died Dec. 12 at Braun's Nursing Home in Evansville, Ind. Born Sarah Spain Oct. 2, 1926, Taylor grew up in Madisonville, Ky. As a rebellious teenager, she changed the spelling of her first name to delete the “h” at the end of Sara. A graduate of Madisonville High School, Taylor attended Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, Mississippi and graduated from the Carnegie Business School. She worked as a secretary at several companies and at retirement was the executive secretary to the CEO for Bristol-Myers Squibb. She served as president of the American Business Women’s Association Moonglow chapter in Evansville and was the organization’s Women of the Year. After retirement, she was active in local amateur theater productions, often performing with the Evansville Repertory Company. She also performed as Minnie Pearl at the Indiana State Fair and appeared in a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV show and as an extra in the movie, “A League of Their Own.” A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Evansville, she also volunteered with the American Red Cross, Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging, and in local schools. Taylor loved reading and attending local arts and music events. She was usually the center of attention in any small group and her smile, wit, and humorous storytelling are remembered by many. Taylor was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Ross “Pinkie” Dunham and her father, Thomas Butler, “Big Daddy” Spain Sr. of Madisonville. At age 19, she was a World War II wife, and at age 22, she was widowed with two young children. She is survived by her children, Lawrence T. Smith and wife Rozani Smith of Enterprise, Ala., Jerry A. Smith and wife Jane Smith of Lakeland, Fla., Kathleen Mills and husband Peter LoPilato of Bloomington, Ind. Taylor also leaves behind four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Dec. 17 at Browning Funeral Home, 738 Diamond Ave. in Evansville. Funeral will follow at 10 a.m. and burial will be at noon at Oddfellow Cemetery in Madisonville, Ky.
October 2, 1926 - December 12, 201610/02/192612/12/2016
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Obituary

Sara Ross Taylor, 90, died Dec. 12 at Braun's Nursing Home in Evansville, Ind. Born Sarah Spain Oct. 2, 1926, Taylor grew up in Madisonville, Ky. As a rebellious teenager, she changed the spelling of her first name to delete the “h” at the end of Sara. A graduate of Madisonville High School, Taylor attended Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, Mississippi and graduated from the Carnegie Business School. She worked as a secretary at several companies and at retirement was the executive secretary to the CEO for Bristol-Myers Squibb. She served as president of the American Business Women’s Association Moonglow chapter in Evansville and was the organization’s Women of the Year. After retirement, she was active in local amateur theater productions, often performing with the Evansville Repertory Company. She also performed as Minnie Pearl at the Indiana State Fair and appeared in a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV show and as an extra in the movie, “A League of Their Own.” A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Evansville, she also volunteered with the American Red Cross, Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging, and in local schools. Taylor loved reading and attending local arts and music events. She was usually the center of attention in any small group and her smile, wit, and humorous storytelling are remembered by many. Taylor was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Ross “Pinkie” Dunham and her father, Thomas Butler, “Big Daddy” Spain Sr. of Madisonville. At age 19, she was a World War II wife, and at age 22, she was widowed with two young children. She is survived by her children, Lawrence T. Smith and wife Rozani Smith of Enterprise, Ala., Jerry A. Smith and wife Jane Smith of Lakeland, Fla., Kathleen Mills and husband Peter LoPilato of Bloomington, Ind. Taylor also leaves behind four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Dec. 17 at Browning Funeral Home, 738 Diamond Ave. in Evansville. Funeral will follow at 10 a.m. and burial will be at noon at Oddfellow Cemetery in Madisonville, Ky.

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Events

Dec
17
Visitation
Saturday, December 17 2016
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Browning Funeral Home
738 E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN 47711
Get Directions
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Dec
17
Service
Saturday, December 17 2016
10:00 AM
Browning Funeral Home
738 E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN 47711
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail