ESSIE L. TAYLOR

EAST PRAIRIE -- Essie Laura Taylor, 99, formerly of Charleston and East Prairie, died Friday, Jan. 26, 1996, at Bertrand Retirement Facility.

She was born Feb. 17, 1896, in Cleburne County, Ala., daughter of the Rev. Wesley Jackson and Nancy Emma Bowman Barker. She and Francis Newton Taylor were married Oct. 26, 1913. He died June 29, 1942.

Taylor was a member of First Baptist Church and had been active in its Women's Missionary Union, was a charter member of RSVP in East Prairie, had been a member of the Kitchen Platter Band, volunteer in the Red Dot Program and in the classrooms of East Prairie High School.

Survivors include a son, Jimmy Taylor of East Prairie; four daughters, Veatrice Shepard of Sikeston, Lorene Shepard of Matthews, Deloris Lingle of East Prairie, Emma Poppe of St. Louis; 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, three grandchildren and a brother.

Friends may call at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston after 2 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Revs. George White and Ted Wimberley officiating. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery.