Festine Taylor

R. Festine Taylor, 79, recently of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006.

Festine was born Jan. 22, 1927, in Caruthersville, Mo., daughter of Robert Emmett and Sadie Lee Hudgens Durbin. She married Leon Emory June 7, 1943. They later divorced. She was married to Beryl Taylor Feb. 23, 1947. They were divorced in 1986.

Festine was a 1944 graduate of College High School in Cape Girardeau, and attended Southeast Missouri State University. She was a well-known face at Sears and Kmart for several years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

She was a master seamstress and was readily recognized in the Cape sewing community as manager of Fabricland, Fabric Center and House of Fabrics. Her sewing skills were often seen in her elaborate Halloween costumes and square dance outfits.

Survivors include two sons, Paul and Sally Taylor of Cape Girardeau, Mike and Marcia Taylor of Kansas City; a daughter, Terri and Dale Rothwell of Raytown, Mo.; two half brothers, John Collins of Eureka Springs, Ark., Robert Durbin of St. Louis; three grandchildren, Andy and Leah Taylor Wenger of St. Louis, Shawn Taylor of Jackson, Lawrence Armstrong of Raytown; three stepgrandchildren, Jason and Amy Rothwell Melton of Butler, Mo., Eric Rothwell of Indianapolis, Ind., and Tim Rothwell of Warrensburg, Mo.

A memorial service will be held later this year in Cape Girardeau.