Ruth Ellen Taylor's Obituary
Ruth Ellen (Justice) Taylor, 74, of Oreana, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 7:01 p.m., surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on December 28, 1950, in Decatur, IL. She is a daughter of the late Robert E “Judd” Justice and Dorothy Jean (Venters) Justice.
In 1968, Ruth met David Taylor while working at Swartz Restaurant; it was love at first sight. She graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1969 and married him the following year on June 14, 1970, at Parkway Church of the Nazarene. They recently celebrated 55 years of marriage, which has brought them one son, Kevin, one daughter, Kim, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Ruth began working as a bus driver for Decatur Public Schools in 1980 and retired from the position in 2000.
Ruth was a friend to anyone she met. She spent her life dedicated to serving The Lord as a Sunday School teacher, women’s Bible study leader, women’s director, teen director, vacation bible school director, choir member, and missionary president at Parkway Church of the Nazarene and later at West Side Church of the Nazarene. Ruth especially enjoyed arranging flowers, seasonally decorating, and arranging epic parties for the church. She loved playing games, crocheting, reading, and spending time with her loved ones.
Those who remain to cherish Ruth’s memory include: loving husband, David Taylor; children, Kevin Taylor and wife Brenda of Murfreesboro, TN, Kim Byrne and fiancé Damon Leisure of Decatur; grandchildren, Jlynn Bedell and husband Kevin, Peyton Taylor, Justin Cardwell, Trenton Cardwell, Nate Byrne, and Carter Byrne; one great-granddaughter due this December; brother, Nick Barrett and wife Victoria of North Carolina; sisters-in-law Carolyn Barrett, Mary Jane Justice, and Teddy Hageman.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her eldest brother, Fred Barrett, and youngest brother, Robert Justice.
The family of Ruth Taylor will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Moran & Goebel Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held the following day, Friday, August 22, 2025, at 10:00 am, with burial afterward in Graceland Cemetery.
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