Helen Mae (Fenninger) TAYLOR

FENNINGER, TAYLOR, SUITER, WRIGHT, MIDDLETON, VALLADARES, ARENDS, PAYNE, SCHMADEKE, HIGGINS, HOVERSTEN, HUISENGA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/4/2016 at 19:48:01

September 30, 1916 ---- July 1, 2016

Helen M. (Fenninger) Taylor, 99, of Clarion passed away Friday, July 1, 2016 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion. Funeral services for Helen Taylor will be held on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 1:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Pastor Don Morrison officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2016 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Helen Mae (Fenninger) Taylor was born September 30, 1916 to John and Zenith (Suiter) Fenninger on the family farm west of Elm Lake in Wright County.

Helen attended country schools, graduated from Clarion High School and received her Normal teaching certificate shortly thereafter. She taught school in a one room school house for four years. Helen was united in marriage with John Melvin Taylor on June 1, 1938 in Clarion. To this union, children Larry and Diane were born. The family made their home in rural Wright County and eventually settled east of Elm Lake. After Melvin passed away in 1972, Helen moved into Clarion where she lived her remaining years, most recently as a resident at the Meadows.

Helen was baptized in the Clarion Church of Christ and was a long time member of the Clarion United Methodist Church where she was active in ladies circle. She was a member of Eastern Star and served as Mother-Advisor in Rainbow Girls, along with membership in various other clubs and organizations over the years.

Helen was very musically inclined. She enjoyed performing alongside Melvin at barn dances. The couple also traveled extensively, visiting numerous states and foreign countries. She continued to travel with family and friends in the years after Melvin’s death. She was an avid reader and loved jigsaw and crossword puzzles. In earlier years, she enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

Helen is survived by her children, Larry (Janaan) Taylor of Clarion and Diane (Tom) Wright of The Villages, Florida; grandchildren Becky (Tom) Middleton of Denver, Colorado, Kelly (Margarito) Valladares of Mesa, Arizona, and Kristie (Mark) Arends of Alden, Jennifer (Bill) Payne of Edmonds, Washington and Christopher (Kimberly) Wright of Costa Mesa, California; great-grandchildren Austin Middleton, Brannon (fianceé Cadie Schmadeke) Arends, Kyle Arends, Carter Arends, Lauren Payne and Ashley Payne; extended family Athena and Dean Higgins, Virginia Hoversten and Vanessa Huisenga; along with numerous other relatives and friends. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Melvin in 1972 and great-granddaughter Madison Middleton.

In lieu of flowers, Helen’s family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to The Madison Middleton Scholarship Fund, c/o Kimberly Armitage, 6533 South Zeno Court, Aurora, CO, 80016-1145 or to the American Cancer Society.

http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/helen-mae-fenninger-taylor/