TRACI TAYLOR

Funeral for Traci N. Taylor of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Randy Alford and the Rev. Cy Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Taylor, 19, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born Sept. 5, 1980, in Conroe, Texas, daughter of Patrick and Donna Hartle Taylor.

Taylor was a graduate of Central High School, where she was president of the French Club and member of Student Senate, Future Teachers of America and Future Business Leaders of America. She attended Southeast Missouri State University.

She was a member of North Cape Church of Christ and Otahki Girl Scouts.

Taylor started the Toy Train at Southeast Hospital in 1992. In 1993 the Toy Train Program earned her a place as one of the 50 people chosen nationwide for a Real Heroes Award given by Maxwell House. This was featured on "CBS This Morning."

In 1996 she was one of two Missouri winners of Prudential's Spirit of Community award as the Junior High winner.

She donated her eyes to Mid-America Transplant.

Survivors include her parents of Cape Girardeau; a brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Stacy Taylor of Cape Girardeau; a grandfather, Bill G. Hartle of Cape Girardeau; an uncle and aunt, Jeff and Yolanda Hartle of Dallas, Texas; cousins, Danielle and Blake Hartle of Dallas; a nephew, Jacob Taylor of Cape Girardeau; a niece, Jordan Claiborne of Denton, Texas; an uncle, Ron Hartle of Flanders, N.J.; and her beloved cat, Romeo.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Shirley Moore Hartle and Burton and Ruth Taylor.

Memorials may be made to the Traci Nicole Taylor Fund by mailing to Judy Sievers at Bank of America, 2001 William, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63703.