Shirley J Taylor

Graveside services for Shirley Taylor will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 10 am at Woodlawn Cemetery in Claremore, OK with Bro. Paul Simpson officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 1:00-7:00 pm at MMS-Payne Funeral Home in Claremore, OK. The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00pm. 

Shirley Taylor, 90, passed away on Wednesday morning, the 8th of January 2025. Shirley was known by all for her generous and loving spirit, exemplified by her close relationships with her large circle of family and friends. 

Shirley Jolene (Breeden Corley) Taylor was born in Claremore, Oklahoma on November 19th, 1934, to parents Opal May Breeden (Gardner) and Joseph Andrew Breeden. Growing up, she attended school in Claremore, including secretarial school, after which she went to work at Viles & Burrows Insurance in Claremore. 

Following her family’s move to Texas in the late 1970s, Shirley took her love for working with and nurturing children, and began a 20 plus year career in childcare, serving at the First Baptist Childcare in Wharton, Texas and then First Baptist Childcare in Tomball, Texas. 

Throughout her life, Shirley’s faith in God and joy in life itself inspired those around her. And her quiet strength grounded her family through seasons of challenge and celebration. 

Shirley’s sense of adventure was nurtured by her love of reading and traveling, including a family trip to Hawaii in 2022 and numerous road trips with her daughter Kristi around the Southeastern United States in her later years. She was a passionate fan of her University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Houston Astros. 

While going to the movies in 1965, Shirley was noticed by her future husband, Don Taylor, who asked her on a date the next day. The pair knew one another as both had grown up in Claremore. After a brief courtship, the pair were married at Trinity Baptist Church in Claremore on Jan. 28, 1966. Their 55-year marriage was filled with love and laughter, a true partnership that only grew and deepened over time. 

One of Shirley’s greatest joys was the family that she and Don created with their daughters Debi, Lisa and Kristi, and their sons David and Don (II). She loved being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending events and celebrations, and was always wishing for more time together. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Don Taylor; parents, Opal and Joseph Breeden; son, David Wayne Corley; brothers, Joseph “Sonny” Breeden and Bill Breeden; granddaughter, Kristin Workman, and an infant great-granddaughter, Tyler Ligon. She is survived by her children, Debra Corley Workman and husband, Robert of Eucha, Okla., Lisa Taylor Fink and husband, Tom of Claremore, Okla., Don Taylor II and wife, Alex of Placitas, New Mexico, and Kristi Taylor Hardy and husband, Mark of Spurger, Texas; sister Sally Ann Wilson of Claremore, Okla.; grandchildren Andrew Corley, Stacie Corley, Melissa Napier, Jill Summers, Logan Fink, Ty Ligon, Nicole Wilkinson and Tate Hardy; numerous nieces and nephews, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many other family members.