Annabel Johnson Taylor, Beaver Dam, Ky.: A strong woman does not begin to describe the 103 year-old Annabel Johnson Taylor. She was born on July 4, 1911, and passed away on April 27, 2015. Annabel (Mimi) was stubborn, strong-willed, independent and full of life, a true firecracker. She was driven from early in life to learn. She would ride a horse from No Creek, Ky., into Hartford, Ky., staying in a boarding house through the week to get her high school education. She graduated from Hartford High School in 1930 and was the last surviving member of the class.
In 1929 her family relocated to live in Beaver Dam, Ky., along with her parents Robert Henry and Verna (Easterday) Johnson and two younger sisters, Hazel (Knox) and Rachel (Taylor).
On Dec. 4, 1937, she was married to Claude Liles Taylor, at the Beaver Dam Baptist Church Parsonage by Reverend James L. Sullivan. Annabel gained the love of Claude’s daughter, Louise Taylor, on that same day. Annabel’s sons, Claude Lewis and Shelby Lee, were born a few years later completing their family.
Annabel was no stranger to adversity in life. In 1945 a fire destroyed her family home. In 1954, her beloved husband Claude died suddenly leaving her a single mother, while her boys were just 14 and 11. She cared for both her aging parents in her home for many years, while always keeping a job to support her family. Through the years she worked at Cooper Department Store, Argle Leach’s Grocery Store, Beaver Dam Drugs, and Taylor’s Department Store.
Through it all, a love of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ sustained her. She was a proud and faithful member of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church since 1929. At the time of her death she was the oldest member of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church. She read the Bible many times over, taught Sunday school classes at Beaver Dam Baptist Church throughout her life and taught even up into her nineties in residence at the nursing home.
Annabel was a member of the Hartford Daughters of the American Revolution. Her hobbies included gardening, tending to her beautiful flowers, sewing, and loving on her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her love is carried on by her family: Claude (Janice) Taylor; Shelby (Judy) Taylor; and Louise (the late, Joseph) Maupin. Eight grandchildren, Shannon (Kevin) Brotherton; Eric (Monica) Taylor; Courtney (Brian) Grumley; and Susan (Kelly) Marcum; Suzanne Maupin (the late, Lee) Nelsen; Harold (Joan) Maupin; Steve (Nancy) Maupin; and Kenny (Svetlana) Maupin. Fourteen great-grandchildren, Hannah Brotherton, Hayden Brotherton, Faith Grumley, Avery Grumley, Ella Taylor, Shelby Rose Marcum, Harper Marcum, Amanda (William) Abrahamson, Christopher (Lisa) Nelsen and Eric (Jin) Nelsen, Timothy Maupin, Jennifer Maupin, Annabella & Angelina Maupin. Seven great-great-grandchildren, Leo, Leif, Astrid, and Eloise Abrahamson, Olivia Nelsen, Tobias Nelsen and Issac Nelsen.
There will never be another one like her. The world has lost a great lady but without a doubt Heaven has gained an amazing soul.
Visitation for Annabel Johnson Taylor will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at Bevil Brothers Funeral Home, 226 Louisville Rd, Beaver Dam, Ky. 42320. A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, with visitation prior to the service at 1:30 p.m. at the Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 343 S. Main St, Beaver Dam, Ky. 42320. Annabel will be laid to rest at Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery next to her beloved Claude. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund: Dowell Taylor, 1428 Stanley Rd., Beaver Dam, Ky. 42320.
Condolences may also be sent to: bevilbrosfuneralhomes.com.