Wilma "MawMaw" Taylor

Wilma “MawMaw” Taylor

1951 - 2019

Wilma Alice Laird Taylor, age 67, passed away on May 22, 2019. She was born in Beaumont, TX on December 5, 1951 to William Amos Laird and Martha Lorraine Bass Laird.

A selfless, loving Christian lady, she always put others needs before her own. She loved big, and had her own way of talking, an expressive twang that was uniquely understood and loved by the hearer. Everything was supportively positive, with Wilma, everything was “Awesome”. She never judged anyone and always believed in looking for the goodness in the hearts of others. She loved others no matter the circumstances, and often reminded her daughters to always love and treat by the example of her Lord Jesus. At the age of 16 and planning to attend a Bridal Shower, she met a young man from Saratoga at a corner store, named Kenneth “Tut” Taylor. She opted to drive around in this young, handsome bull rider’s Red Mustang instead of attending the Bridal Shower, and thus their love story began. Six months later, though her parents were not privy to the idea of her marrying a bull rider, they too fell in love with “Tut”, after seeing how in love he and Wilma were. After marrying on June 15, 1968, Wilma and “Tut” would spend the next 14 years at each other’s side, until he passed away suddenly at the age of 38. Her love for “Tut” never ceased; even after his death, his spirit remained lovingly in Wilma’s heart and his memory emanated vibrantly in the stories that she passed on to her daughters and grandchildren, making them feel as they had known him their entire lives. A survivor, she faithfully remained strong through life’s trials and tribulations: working hard as a single mother to raise and give her three daughters her entire heart of love, with her world changing after losing “Tut”; and struggling with cancer from 1995 until her last breath, no matter how bad she felt remaining always happy, especially lighting up to hold her only great-grandchild, Nolan. Wilma was an excellent cook, passing her talents and special techniques on to her daughters and granddaughters; from her ever delicious Fried Chicken recipe to her Hot Water Cornbread, at every family gathering, she made sure there was something to eat. Wilma was unsure how to cook for 1 or 2 people, and her culinary productions would often lead to excess, with enough food to feed 30 or more. For Wilma, ketchup went on everything that she ate, including gumbo. Cooking was not limited to the kitchen; being done outdoors as well, no one doubted when Wilma was around who was going to be doing the cooking. Possessing a never ceasing passion for children, she served a long-time career as a bus driver for Kountze and Lumberton. “MawMaw” loved spending time with her grandchildren: at home and in the kitchen; in the outdoors and woods she loved so much; and on the beach. Wilma’s legacy of selfless love and kind spirit will live on in the memory of her beloved family and friends, as she is reunited in Heaven, happier than ever, with “Tut” and her daughter, “Sissy”.

Left to honor her memory are her loving daughters and sons-in-law she treated as her own, Kelly Burke and husband, Shawn, of Lumberton, TX and Keitha Martel and husband, Paul, of Nome, TX; sister, Sandra Mills of Silsbee, TX; grandchildren, Taylor Burke and wife, Shelby, Dalton Burke and wife, Hannah, Luke Burke, Hannah Burke, Marlee Martel and fiancé, Hunter Walston, Wyatt Martel and Waylonn Martel; great-grandson, Nolan Burke; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Wilma is preceded in death by her loving husband, Kenneth Wayne “Tut” Taylor; parents; daughter, Sandy “Sissy” Taylor; brother, Charlie Laird; and sister, Linda Smith.

Visitation with family and friends will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Kountze, 100 W Monroe St, Kountze, TX 77625. Wilma’s life honoring service will be on Monday, May 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., also at the church, with Bro. Taylor Burke and Bro. Ernest Brown officiating and burial at Old Hardin Cemetery, Kountze, TX.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilma "MawMaw" Taylor, please visit our floral store.