Shirley Jean Taylor

Shirley Jean (Wickham) Taylor passed away on February 17, 2020, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House. She was the daughter of the late Leslie Wickham and Lula Mae (Smith) Wickham and born at her parent’s home, 314 Leavenworth Street in Manhattan, Kansas on October 9, 1934. Shirley was a graduate of Manhattan High School Class of 1952. Shirley was united in marriage to Dean Taylor and they were married nearly 69 years. She was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker and after raising their children she was a Welcome Wagon Hostess and then became the Women’s Representative of First National Bank. Later she and her husband owned and operated The Palace Card and Gift Store in Aggieville for over twenty years. Shirley lived in service to others. She was in the first training class for Hospice in Manhattan. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Jaycee Jaynes and Elks Ladies Auxiliary as well as Domestic Science Club and former member of Pilot Club. Shirley was also a charter member and past president of PEO Chapter IL. One of her greatest assets was her quiet letter writing to people facing illness and hardship all the while suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years with never a complaint. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert, John Paul, and Larry Wickham and her sister Nancy Curry as well as her daughter Sandra Bernasek. Shirley is survived by her husband, Dean Taylor, her son in law Steven Bernasek, her daughter Christy (Steve) Kimball, sons Gregory (Faith) Taylor and Bryan (Rhonda) Taylor, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held on February 19, 2020, at 10:00 am at Westview Community Church. Memorials would be appreciated to The Good Shepherd Hospice House or Global Partners (for her granddaughter Amy Thompson’s Ecuador missionary fund) and mailed to Christy Kimball 3504 Claflin Road Manhattan, Kansas 66503