Merlyn Dean Taylor

Merlyn Dean Taylor, 83 of Kahoka formerly of Keokuk, died Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the Clark County Nursing Home in Kahoka. On April 8, 1935 Merlyn was born in Gorin, Missouri the daughter of Madison Stone and Barbara Grace Bergthold Newman. She was united in to marriage to Charles Richard Arnold in 1953. They later divorced in 1954. She later married Arlis William "Muggs" Taylor in July of 1957. He preceded her in death on May 5, 2002. Merlyn was born and raised in rural Gorin, Missouri graduating from Gorin R-III High School in 1953. She was a member of the Gorin Go-Getters 4-H club, the Gorin High School basketball team and a member of the Gorin Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for a time. She was later a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and Emmanuel United Methodist Church. She had been employed Henniges Automotive for 42 years and retired in 1997. She was also a member of the United Rubber Workers of America. She owned a stock car and loved the races. She tried her hand at knitting, key punch, raising Chinchillas. Poodles and Siamese cats. Merlyn loved to travel with relatives to the west coast enjoying sites in Washington, Oregon and California. She made numerous trips to Florida to visit her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her son, Ronald (Brenda) Taylor of Keokuk and her daughter, Zandra Cole of Burlington, four grandchildren, Matthew Joy, Brandy Taylor, Ronald "Ronnie" Taylor, Jr, and Casey Taylor, six great grandchildren, Jordan Tate, Taylor Davis, James "Jamie" Davis, Rilyn Taylor, Weston Taylor and Paislee Davis and a brother Nolan (Betty) Newman of Hannibal along with many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband she was also preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Joyce Joy, two grandchildren, Jamie Joy and Mindy Taylor, a great granddaughter, Peyton Davis, two sisters, Avis Hudnut and Naomi Buford and a brother, Wayne Newman plus two nephews and numerous other family members. Funeral services were held 10 a.m., October 12, at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with Leon Buford officiating. Burial was in the Keokuk National Cemetery. Visitation was held after 3 p.m., October 11, at the funeral home with the family meeting with friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.