November 4, 1919 November 30, 2024
Reba Lynn Crocker Taylor, 105, of Center, Texas, passed away on November 30, 2024, in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. She was born on November 4, 1919, in Center, Texas, to the late Clinton A. Crocker and Clara Stephens Crocker. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 12 p.m. with memorial services following at 1 p.m. at Watson and Sons Funeral Home, with Porter Brewer officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas.
Reba graduated from Joaquin High School in 1937 and then went on to Texas State College for Women (currently Texas Woman’s University in Denton), where she studied home economics. She later transferred to Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College (currently SFASU). When World War II began, she had to leave school to return home. She met and married Duke Ricks Taylor, Jr., in Center on December 3, 1942. They left Center for a brief time where they lived in Washington, D.C., but then returned to Center after Virginia and Stephen were born. Reba had a strong love for her family and was a wonderful cook. She was an avid painter and enjoyed teaching her grandchildren her love for painting when they were in town to visit. Mrs. Taylor was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Center, Texas.
She is survived by her loving family, children; Stephen Duke Taylor of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Donna Lynn Beasley Rayburn and husband, William Harold Rayburn, of Fairview, Tennessee, Scott Beasley and wife, Emma Beasley, of Altus, Oklahoma, Carrie Michelle Hanna and husband Carlton (Carl) David Hanna, of Fairview, Texas, Douglas William Beasley and wife, Rebecca Choate Beasley, of Power Springs, Georgia, Daniel Taylor Beasley and wife, Katie Edgington Beasley, of Nashville, Tennessee, Michael Alan Taylor and wife, Michelle Milrany Taylor, of Houston, Texas, Richard Chad Avara and wife, April Lynn Avara, of The Colony, Texas, Jason Wade Avara and wife, Laura Patricia Avara, of High Village, Texas; great-grandchildren, Julia Taylor Rayburn, Sarah Beasley Miner and husband, Mikal Miner, William Scott Beasley, Asher Douglas Beasley, Liam Isaac Beasley, Margaret Lynn Beasley, Virginia Grace Beasley, Benjamin Taylor Beasley, Taylor Lynn Hanna, Colton Conrad Hanna, Ellison Joyce Taylor, Emery Rose Taylor, Richard Grayson Avara, Brody Ray Avara, Kendra Faye Avara, Jed Wyatt Avara; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, family members and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clinton A. Crocker and wife, Clara Stephens Crocker; her brother, Clinton Paul Crocker; her husband, Duke Ricks Taylor, Jr.; her daughter Virginia Lynn Taylor Beasley; her son-in-law, William Beasley; and her daughter-inlaw, Faye Lynn Scarbrough Avara Taylor.
Pallbearers will be Ray Taylor, Scott Beasley, Douglas Beasley, Daniel Beasley, Michael Taylor and Carl Hanna. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Chad Avara and Jason Wade Avara.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to First Baptist Church, Center, Texas.
Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www. watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com