Taylor, Ara

Ara Taylor

Services:Have been held.

Mrs. Ara May Taylor, 96, of Portales, died Friday, May 27, 2005, at Laurel Plains Nursing Center in Clovis.

She was born on Feb. 16, 1909, in Spiro, Indian Territory, Okla., to Mandy and James C. Coggin.

She was 13 when the family was left orphaned. She and her twin sister had to go to work to support the family and raise the younger children. She married Claude Taylor on Feb. 2, 1936. They farmed in Texas until 1945 when they moved to the Bethel community. Later they moved to Portales and opened the Taylor Grocery. She attended the First Baptist Church where she was a member of the Golden Circle Sunday school class. Family members said she was a great cook, enjoyed gardening, sewing, traveling, and loved making people laugh.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jim and D.W. Coggin; three sisters, Easter Price, Billie McIlvain, and her twin sister, Era Fay McLendon; a grandson, Kenneth Taylor; two sons, Jerry and Ralph Taylor; and by her husband.

Survivors include a daughter, Dee Wesson of Portales; a daughter-in-law, Margaret Taylor of Moore, Texas; nine grandchildren, Stuart Wesson of Portales, Paul Wesson (and wife, Candace) of Austin, Texas, Trent Wesson (Rhonda) of Albuquerque, Megan Alderman (Matt) of Fort Collins, Colo., Sian Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, Morgan Taylor (Brenda) of San Diego, Calif., Bryn Taylor of Moore, Texas, Cherry Burns (Robert) of Woodward, Okla., and Debbie Jackson (John) of Woodward, Okla.; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

Rev. Ted Bailey will officiate the services.

Honorary pallbearers are all of her grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.