Dotty Jean Taylor of Denison, formerly of Leonard, TX passed from this life in her home surrounded by family on September 27, 2017. She was 91 years old. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday September 30, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel at Leonard. Pastor Mark Mitchell will officiate. Family visitation and viewing is scheduled for Friday September 29, 2017 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery at Brinkley, Arkansas Sunday October 1, 2017 at 2:00 P.M.
Dotty was survived by her children Beth Stroud of Hamlin, TX and Jim Taylor and wife Cari of Denison, TX; her grandchildren: Clayton Robinson, Stacie Stroud, Diana Wilson and husband Curtis, Kimberly Occhino and husband John, JJ Taylor and wife Chrissy, Derek Taylor, and two step-grandchildren Bailey and RJ Buchanan; her six great-grandchildren: Racheal, MacKenzie, Blake, Ethan, Kailey and Ryder; her sister, Betty Mitchell of West Plains, MO. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Adkins, and a sister, Ann Boyd.
Dotty was born on January 13, 1926 in Brinkley, Arkansas to James and Addie Adkins. She graduated from East Texas Baptist College School of Nursing where she received her nursing degree. Her nursing career included caring for WWII patients in Army hospitals, pediatrics, obstetrics and she was also a hospital Director of Nursing. She also taught nursing at Texarkana College. She later met and married Richard Taylor and they eventually moved to Leonard, Texas and established Taylor Funeral Home in 1968. She worked 2 jobs for an extended period of time while the business was getting established to keep the family going. The business is still running after 49 years but is now under different ownership. After ending her nursing career, she got her Master’s degree and became a second grade teacher at Leonard Elementary, where she retired in 1991. Dotty was a member of the First Baptist Church of Leonard where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. After retirement she spent her time traveling and enjoying her grandchildren and ensuring they experienced all the joys life has to offer.
Dotty has left countless memories with her family and friends and a positive mark on everyone she has met.
Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home of Leonard is in charge of arrangements. An online registry may be signed at www.tjmfuneral.com.