Helen Taylor
October 29, 1936 — December 31, 2022
Helen Taylor of rural Eureka, passed away at her home, Saturday, December 31, 2022, following a long battle with Lewy Body dementia, at the age of 86.
She was born October 29, 1936, in Merced, California, the daughter of Joaquin and Mary (Perez) Martinez. She was the sixth oldest of fourteen children. In 1959, Helen married the love of her life, Richard Taylor. Together they were blessed with four children: Kim, Richard, Kelly, and Ronnie. Richard was in the U.S. Air Force and so the family lived in many states and in Europe for a time.
Helen was a wonderful stay-at-home mother, and the foundation of the family. She encouraged and supported her family in all their endeavors. She instilled in the family the love of reading and travel, and most importantly of faith in God. She loved to travel. Helen cruised to Mexico, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, the Mediterranean, and Alaska. She also loved to bowl and go to the Wichita operas and plays.
Once her children were all in school Helen went to college to get her teaching degree. She was an English-as-Second-Language teacher for junior and senior high students. She loved learning new languages and cultures and was once voted Teacher of The Year. She retired to Eureka, Kansas in 2000, after more than 20 years teaching at the Victor Valley School district in California.
She was a member of the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary and the Greenwood County Community Benefit, where she was a past secretary.
Helen is survived by her children: Kim Fogle of Eureka; Richard Taylor of Scottsdale, Arizona; Kelly Adams of Anacortes, Washington; and Ronnie Taylor of Howard, Kansas; grandchildren: Cynthia, Nathan, Stella, and Colby; two great-grandchildren; siblings: Lupe Reyes of Fresno, California; William Martinez of Colton, California; Inez Mireles of Merced, California; Sally Knapp of Wilder, Idaho; JoAnn Gonzales of Fresno, California; Victor Martinez of Sylmar, California; Jimmy Martinez of Tucson, Arizona; and Abigail Gonzalez of Tucson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; and siblings: Paul, Fernando, Mildred, Wilbur, and Mary.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, January 9, 2023, at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Pastor Jerry Clark officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association or to the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
She was born October 29, 1936, in Merced, California, the daughter of Joaquin and Mary (Perez) Martinez. She was the sixth oldest of fourteen children. In 1959, Helen married the love of her life, Richard Taylor. Together they were blessed with four children: Kim, Richard, Kelly, and Ronnie. Richard was in the U.S. Air Force and so the family lived in many states and in Europe for a time.
Helen was a wonderful stay-at-home mother, and the foundation of the family. She encouraged and supported her family in all their endeavors. She instilled in the family the love of reading and travel, and most importantly of faith in God. She loved to travel. Helen cruised to Mexico, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, the Mediterranean, and Alaska. She also loved to bowl and go to the Wichita operas and plays.
Once her children were all in school Helen went to college to get her teaching degree. She was an English-as-Second-Language teacher for junior and senior high students. She loved learning new languages and cultures and was once voted Teacher of The Year. She retired to Eureka, Kansas in 2000, after more than 20 years teaching at the Victor Valley School district in California.
She was a member of the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary and the Greenwood County Community Benefit, where she was a past secretary.
Helen is survived by her children: Kim Fogle of Eureka; Richard Taylor of Scottsdale, Arizona; Kelly Adams of Anacortes, Washington; and Ronnie Taylor of Howard, Kansas; grandchildren: Cynthia, Nathan, Stella, and Colby; two great-grandchildren; siblings: Lupe Reyes of Fresno, California; William Martinez of Colton, California; Inez Mireles of Merced, California; Sally Knapp of Wilder, Idaho; JoAnn Gonzales of Fresno, California; Victor Martinez of Sylmar, California; Jimmy Martinez of Tucson, Arizona; and Abigail Gonzalez of Tucson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; and siblings: Paul, Fernando, Mildred, Wilbur, and Mary.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, January 9, 2023, at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Pastor Jerry Clark officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association or to the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
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