Priscilla Hardison Taylor

PRISCILLA GRAHAM HARDISON TAYLOR, 98, passed away January 10, 2017 at the Hays Nursing Center in San Marcos, Texas. Priscilla Mae Graham was born in Epping, New Hampshire, the daughter of Lt. (later Major General, USA) Roy Charles Lemach Graham and Georgianna Sezaree Gagnon Graham. In the post-World War I years, the family lived in Coblenz, Germany, where Lt. Graham served with the American Forces. Priscilla’s younger sister Sylvia (later Mrs. Henry B. “Hal” Flack) was born there.

As an Army brat, Priscilla lived in various places. She graduated from Immaculata High School in Levenworth, Kansas, and attended Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, where her father was Post Quartermaster at Fort Sam Houston. On August 23, 1939, she married Lt. (later Colonel, USAF) Felix M. Hardison of the Army Air Forces in the Fort Sam Houston Chapel.

Priscilla and Felix Hardison were first stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1942, Priscilla lived with her parents in San Antonio while Felix Hardison piloted a B-17 Flying Fortress in combat in Southeast Asia. He named his plane Suzy-Q after Priscilla because she was so good at the popular Suzy-Q dance of the day. In 1943, she published a book, The Suzy-Q, about his wartime experiences.

After the war, the Hardisons lived briefly in Santa Monica, while Felix was on assignment from the military to consult on military-themed MGM movies. Subsequent USAF assignments included: Winter Park, Florida; Rapid City, South Dakota; South Ruislip and Brize Norton, England; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Bozeman, Montana. They also lived in Seattle, Washington and in Huntsville, Alabama, before returning to the place Priscilla always considered her permanent home, San Antonio. There they built a beautiful home in the Garden Ridge community, enjoying life with family and friends both old and new. Priscilla and Felix shared 44 years of marriage before he died in 1983.

In 1986, Priscilla Hardison married Col. Broadus B. (B.B.) Taylor, USAF. They lived in San Antonio’s Windcrest neighborhood, and enjoyed travelling as well as socializing with their many friends until his death in 1993. In her next home in The Towers on Park Lane, San Antonio, Priscilla continued with her many friendships and her lifelong avocation as a bridge player. She later moved to Brookdale, then Hays Nursing Center, in San Marcos, Texas, to be close to her daughter.

Throughout her life, Priscilla had been a leader in establishing charitable and service programs, and was also a frequent volunteer with Officer Wives Clubs, Grey Ladies, PTA, Catholic Church charities, air base thrift shops, Scouting, and many other service organizations. She excelled at needlework, crafts, gardening, and cooking and passed many of these interests on to her daughters. She was an outstanding example of quiet strength and duty. A brilliant hostess of social events large and small, family and friends remember her for her charm and grace under all circumstances, and above all, for being the true meaning of a lady.

Priscilla is survived by her three daughters: Felicia Mae (Venne-Richard) Londre of Kansas City, Missouri, Suzanne Leighton of San Marcos, Texas, and Sandra Lee (Jack) Bartlett of Center, Texas, and by B.B. Taylor’s daughter, Mary Sue. Her grandchildren are Shana Roy Leighton, (Matt Wagar), Douglass Kent Leighton, Jr., Tristan Graham (Tilda) Londre, Georgianna Rose Londre (Martin) Buchanan, Leda Mae Bartlett (Timothy) Barnett, and Jack Graham (Azuka) Bartlett. Her great-grandchildren are Madison and Katherine Wagar; Alexandra, Noelle, and Kara Leighton; Graham, Henry, Eleanore, Gilbert, and Adeline Londre; Kincaid and Isabella Barnett; and Felix Buchanan. She is also survived by her niece Melissa Flack Baker and nephew Henry B. (Chip) Flack, Jr., and by Mrs. Eric (Mary) Flack. The family would like to thank St. Therese Catholic Church from Center, TX especially Father Jose Luis Viadarte for his kind words and support.

Services were held at Sunset Funeral Home, Fr. Luis officiating, 1701 Austin Hwy., San Antonio, on January 27. Visitation was at 11:00 a.m., followed by a chapel service at 12:00 p.m. Interment was at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Memorial masses were held at later dates.

In lieu of flowers, those who desire may make a memorial contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/800-805-5856) or a charity of their choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, San Antonio, TX.