Berry Lou Taylor's Obituary
Remembering a Life: Mrs. Berry Lou Taylor Berry was born April 18, 1927 in Milburn, OK. She went to school in Durant and worked as a Candy Striper at the Durant Hospital. During high school she moved to California to live with her maternal grandfather where she met and married Milton B. Taylor from Chattanooga, TN. They owned and operated a canteen service at the shipyards in Richmond, CA. They had two children, Junior and Pat, who were born in Richmond. She divorced a few years later and moved back to Durant with her children. Berry worked for Montgomery Wards for several years with her long-time friend, Margaret Manners. She later married Stanley Charlton who had a car business in Durant. In 1966 she and Stanley were divorced and Berry moved to Las Vegas, NV where she remarried Milton Taylor. She lived and worked in Las Vegas for 36 years before returning to Durant in October 2001. She worked for an upscale men’s clothing store, Steve Gordon’s, for many years. Over the years she worked at different store locations; the Maryland Park Blvd. Mall, the Fashion Show Mall on the strip, and at McCarran Field Airport where she saw many people from Durant passing through. While some intentionally stopped to see her others were pleasantly surprised to see her. During her years in Las Vegas she developed many long-lasting friendships with people she worked with, with neighbors, and with other airport personnel and skycaps. She was always preparing and taking food to the airport for her friends, especially during the holidays. She baked cakes and pies for their birthdays. She was well-known and loved by all that knew her and after her move back to Durant her friends were still calling to see how she was doing and sending cards telling her how much they missed her. Rockey and Brenda Young made 2 trips to Tulsa to see her. Berry was a very loving mother, grandmother and friend. Her generosity had no limits and she spoiled everyone in her family, especially at Christmas. She was Mrs. Santa Claus! She especially loved and spoiled her grandchildren, Cris, Vanessa, Dallas and Travis. She was also very generous to her friends whether it was a special occasion or if they had a need. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her mother, Bessie Gertrude Mullens and stepfather, Claud Mullens of Durant, husband, Milton B. Taylor of Las Vegas, NV, and sister, Edna Jewel Bridges. Survivors include her son, Junior Taylor and daughter-in-law, Carla, of Durant; daughter, Pat and husband, Jim Elder of Tulsa, OK; 6 grandchildren, Cris Hicks, Vanessa Cordell and husband, Byron, Dallas Taylor and wife, Lori, Travis Taylor and wife, Becca, Jeff and Jimmy Elder, 9 great-grandchildren, Kendall, Carlie, Rachel, and Brandon Cordell, Lane Stanley Taylor, Olivia and Nora Taylor, Kerri and Christopher Elder, and one due in October. Graveside service will be in Durant, OK. There will be a reception for friends and family at 7:00 PM, on Friday, July 25, 2014 at the home of Junior and Carla Taylor, located at 840 Lakeshore Drive, Durant, OK. A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2014. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133.
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