Lillian Mae Taylor

Lillian Mae Taylor was born October 27, 1930 in Floyd County, Kentucky to Wallace Dewey Steele and Lena Nunnery-Steele. She went to be with her Savior on July 7. Lillian grew up in impoverished Appalachia in the 1930s and 1940s. She graduated from Betsy Layne High School in 1947, after which she married, earned a two-year teaching degree, and moved to Ohio. After teaching many years, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Akron. Lillian taught mostly fifth grade in Title I schools for over 50 years in Ohio, California and Kansas. She moved to California in 1984, then to Kansas in 1999. Both moves were to be near family and to teach. Lillian’s passions included her beloved childhood home in the hills of southeastern Kentucky, ministering to underserved people, empowering women in poverty, and travel. She made several missions trips to Central America and spent two years at age 70 living in a remote village where she taught English to pastors, children, and women. Lillian firmly believed in holistic ministry – that there was no purpose in talking about Jesus if people were hungry or lived without proper housing. She worked specifically with female pastors and young women in ministry. Lillian was a member of WHO, an organization in Wichita that serves meals in federally-funded retirement centers. She took Spanish classes until the time of her death. She loved to travel, and had a trip planned to the Panama Canal in October. Lillian is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her loving family: brother Roger Steele of California; children Jean Knoerzer (Pete) of Florida, John Taylor (Holly) of Wichita, Beverly Taylor of California, and Mark Taylor of California; and grandchildren Ann Taylor, Sarah Lee (Tom), Monica Benza (Gabriel), Mikee Taylor, and Jay Taylor. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 14 at 10:00 AM at Cross Road Church, 2139 S. Maize Road, Wichita, Kansas. Burial will be in Kentucky at a private ceremony for family only. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hearts to Honduras or The Kansas Food Bank.