Kathy Lee Taylor

Kathy (Mancill) Taylor grew up in Theodore, Alabama. She went to heaven at the age of 70. While she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over one year ago, she never let it label her. She was so much more than a diagnosis.

She was a wife. She attended Lipscomb University, where she met the love of her life, Craig. She wanted to marry a man who would make her smile and laugh, and Craig did just that for the last 50 years. And as his wife, she supported him through his own educational ventures, career aspirations, and cancer diagnosis. As a couple, they met each challenge with an encouraging word and always leaned on their faith in God's goodness.

She was a momma. And was she ever a good one. Kathy and Craig have two children, Jennifer (Caner) Derici and Amanda (Nick) Hilton, and two grandchildren, Gage and Harlow Hilton. She gave the best encouragement. Her daughters called her every day, and you could hear her smile through the other end of the line. She didn't have a selfish bone in her body. When her daughter was allergic to her pillow as a child, Kathy cut her satin wedding dress to make a soft pillow for her. She taught her daughters that there is more to life than earthly things and instead, to focus on the wellbeing of others. Kathy never tried to change her children's dreams, but instead, encouraged them to follow their passions. And where they are today is owed to the unselfish love of this amazing woman.

She was a friend. You couldn't meet Kathy without feeling her goodness. She was known for her random acts of kindness, like delivering hot coffee and donuts to people working hard outside and opening her house to hungry college students who needed a good meal and a warm heart.

She was an artist. An artist in the garden. Everything she touched, from peonies to zinnias, grew more beautiful and spread joy to those around her. She was an artist with fabric, creating children's barrettes and dresses and designed the most amazing quilts that required patience, persistence and a creative eye.

She was a woman with a relentless spirit. When she set her mind to something, nothing could stop her. Even through her year of cancer treatments, she worked. She finished 2 hand-sewn quilts, she kept up her nightly tradition of walks with the love of her life, and she maintained her job as a property manager for her family's commercial and residential rentals.

She was a faithful servant. She never once cursed God, or even questioned why. She trusted and submitted to God's will and she shared her faith freely with others. Her motto was the only way out is through. And now she is through heaven's gates. While we may not earn our way to heaven, if anyone deserved a golden ticket, it was her.

Her family would like to thank Simon Cancer Center and IU Hospice for their compassionate care.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Clarissa Mancill, and her two brothers, Charlie and John Mancill.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Craig; mother-in-law, Wanda Taylor; children, Jenny (Caner) Derici and Amanda (Nick) Hilton; grandchildren, Gage and Harlow Hilton; brother, Paul (Marcia) Mancill; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be Saturday at 11am at Day & Deremiah-Frye, 4150 East 3rd Street. Burial will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens. Friends may visit the family at the funeral home on Friday from 4pm-7pm. Online condolences may be given at www.dayderemiahfrye.com

To increase research and federal funding for the cure for pancreatic cancer, loved ones are invited to make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach CA 90266.