Alva LaVerne Taylor

Alva LaVerne Russell Taylor, 88, of Abilene went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday evening, September 19th, 2010 surrounded by her family. A visitation and viewing will be held on Thursday evening, September 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St. Services will follow on Friday, September 24th, 2010 at 2:00pm at the University Church of Christ with Bill Young officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Alva LaVerne Russell was born to Amy Heathington and Ernest Alvin Russell on May 24, 1922 in Ralls, Crosby County Texas. She graduated from Floydada High School as Valedictorian in May, 1940. LaVerne entered ACC (ACU) in the fall of 1940 where she met William Byron Taylor and married him on February 10, 1942 in Littlefield, Texas. She then assumed the responsibilities of a missionary's wife and helped Byron establish Churches of Christ in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma. She completed her BA in education at ACC (ACU) in 1956.

In 1959, she and her family moved to the Snyder, Texas area. LaVerne taught school in Snyder until 1966 when she and Byron moved to Abilene. She taught at Alta Vista for 21 years before retiring.

LaVerne was an avid genealogist. She was an officer or member of Colonial Dames, United Daughters of Confederacy and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She and Byron built a cabin in the Sangre de Christo Mountains in New Mexico and spent many memorable summers there.

She was a member of the University Church of Christ until her death.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, and one grandchild.

Survivors include two daughters, Janet Flournoy, who lived with her and cared for her and Sue Wiman of Charlotte, NC; one son, David Taylor of Lubbock; four grandchildren, Chris Taylor and wife Dawn of Portales, NM, Andy Miller and wife Janna of Charlotte, NC, Greg Miller of Charlotte, NC and Traci Lawless of Euless; one sister, Wilma Marshall and husband, Dr. Joe Marshall and their three children, Mike and wife, Donna of Colleyville, TX, Pam and husband Tim of Kerrville, TX, Julie and husband Paul of Grayslake, IL; one brother-in-law James Boyd Taylor (a twin of her husband, Byron) and his two children, Sheryl Davis of Dallas and Derl Taylor of McKinney; two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.