Shirley Bromley Taylor, 88, passed away Jan. 9, 2016, at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater.
She was born May 14, 1927, in LaGrange, the fourth of five children of Frederick and Ruth (Hackett) Bromley. She lived in LaGrange, and graduated from College High in Whitewater, class of 1944. She attended Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio, majoring in voice, with thoughts of singing professionally. However, after three years she returned to Wisconsin and married Dean Taylor on June 28, 1947. They are lifelong residents of LaGrange where they farmed until they retired. After retiring from farming, Dean and Shirley wintered in Apache Junction, Ariz., where they made many enduring friendships.
Shirley continued her lifetime love of music by teaching voice. She directed the Palmyra United Methodist Church choir for several years and then the LaGrange United Methodist Church choir for more than 40 years. She was in great demand as a vocalist and sang at countless weddings, funerals, church services and community events.
A lifelong member of the LaGrange United Methodist Church, Shirley taught Sunday school and served on and chaired innumerable committees. For many years she was also a representative to the church’s Annual Conference. Shirley was a very active member of the Ruth Circle of United Methodist Women and served as a district officer in the South East District. Her presence at the LaGrange Methodist Diner at the Walworth County Fair will be sorely missed, as she was one of the founding members of the diner and over the years devoted thousands of hours to making it a successful fundraiser for the church.
Shirley cared deeply for others. She was a 4-H leader for five years when her son, Chuck, was growing up. She delivered Meals on Wheels and was a 30-plus year volunteer at Lakeland Health Care Center often taking her grandchildren along and showing them the importance of giving back to the community. She was a poll worker for the Town of LaGrange and was a life member of Rob Morris #10 Order of the Eastern Star in Palmyra. Shirley and Dean also served as a host family for numerous UW-Whitewater foreign students as well as hosting an American Foreign Exchange student from Chile during the entire 1967-68 school year. In 2003, she was honored as an Outstanding Senior at the Walworth County Fair.
Shirley is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, Dean; her son, Chuck (Barb) of LaGrange; her granddaughter, Carrie (Jeff) James, and their children, Landon and Kailyn, of Olympia, Wash.; and her grandson, Mike (fiancée Carlye Weir), of Bowie, Md. She is further survived by her sister, Martha Dawson, of Indianapolis, and her sister-in-law, Joyce Dougherty, of Whitewater, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many, many friends. In addition, she is survived by several very special host family students whom she considered to be her children, Joe and Eva Fok, of Madison; Lai-Ming and Chi-Sing Man of Lexington, Ky.; Yee-Lih (deceased) and Tsung-Ping Chen of South Salem, N.Y.; and Francisco (deceased) and Coca Larach, of Santiago, Chile. She was predeceased by her parents; her in-laws, Lloyd and Elsie Taylor; her brother and sister-in-law, Fred (Barbara) Bromley; her sister, Beth Bromley; her sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis (Wally) Dunham; her brothers-in-law, Jim Dawson and Jim Dougherty; and Connie, a daughter who died in infancy.
Shirley, Dean and Chuck were for years a family of three, but it was rare indeed to have only three at Shirley’s dinner table. She lived her life for others, and a great many of the beneficiaries of her caring were to be found appreciating her generosity and her company over a delicious home-cooked meal.
A memorial service will take place Saturday, Jan. 23, at the LaGrange United Methodist Church, N8548 County Road H, Whitewater, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Dr. Don Norman officiating. Visitation will be at the church Friday, Jan. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and on Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the LaGrange United Methodist Church, the Fairhaven (Whitewater) van replacement fund or the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department.
Many heartfelt thanks to the staff at Hearthstone Memory Care who so lovingly cared for Shirley during her last two years.
The Nitardy Funeral Home Whitewater is assisting the family.
