Shirley Jewell Taylor

Shirley Jewell Elliott Taylor, age 86, of Kettle Island, Kentucky, passed away on February 20th after a long battle with heart disease while surrounded by her family at the Barbourville Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was a devoted mother to her two sons, Jason and Clark Jeffrey Taylor and grandmother to Dylan and Connor Taylor, as well as a favorite aunt to a multitude of nieces and nephews. Shirley faithfully attended her home church, Calvary Chapel, the church her father, Simon Elliott, helped to establish many years prior until its closing when she moved to Stoney Fork Pentecostal Community Church, and always instilled in her family the values of a Christian home.

She was well known for her delicious food and everyone enjoyed her special treat of peanut butter candy, Christmas cookies, dumplings and other wonderful foods. As the younger family members married, she would make grooms cakes and even wedding cakes as her special tribute. Shirley retired after 30 years working for the Bell County Board of Education and was a familiar face at the downtown Pineville office where she worked the switchboard and did work on various programs such as the JTPA youth program where she helped so many Bell County youths and of course everyone enjoyed seeing her on paydays.

In addition to her parents, Simon Elliott and Pearl Johnson Elliott, and her husband, William Gillis Taylor, Shirley was preceded in death by younger sister, Emma Elliott and brother, Jimmy Elliott. Also, more recently her brothers, Curtis and Jean Elliott and Ronnie Elliott, as well as her sisters, Patsy and Don Wells and Joyce and Carter Wilson and their daughter, Janie Smith Wilson.

She is survived by her son, Jason and Kathy Taylor, Pineville; son, Clark Jeffrey and Sherry Taylor of LaGrange; grandchildren, Dylan Taylor and Connor Taylor; sisters, Kathy and Barry Schuester and Carolyn and Harold Prindle; special nephew, Eddie and Leigh Ann Wilson; a special niece, Lauren and Kyle Hoskins; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family wants to recognize the wonderful loving care she received while still in her home from special friends, Michelle Glover and Rebecca Miller, who consistently did all they could to help both Shirley and her family. After Shirley became a resident of the Barbourville Health and Rehabilitation Center the family was inspired by the devotion of care she was shown on a daily basis. Shirley became fast friends with her roommate, Cleo Broughton, whom she loved and enjoyed visiting with and Cleos’s extensive family.

The family also recognizes Dr. Martha Combs-Woolum who was such a wonderful friend and reliable doctor, Dr. James West at the Barbourville ARH hospital and the staff of Bluegrass Care Navigators, and the friends at Taylor Drug Store who all were so supportive during this long battle.

Private graveside services will be held at the Green Hills Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Dylan and Connor Taylor, Eddie Wilson, Jimmy Elliott, Chad Cannady, Kyle Wilson, Barry Schuester, Ben Lancaster, Heather Earls, and Brian Yankee with honorary pall bearers Kyle Hoskins, Tommy Elliott, Harold Prindle, Dalton Elliott, Carter Smith, Matthew Smith and Paul Ball.

Arnett & Steele Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Pineville is honored to serve the Taylor Family.