Billye Anne Taylor

Helen Francis McCorkle Taylor peacefully passed from this life on February 20, 2015 at the age of 94. The daughter of Robert and Ruth Jennison McCorkle, known to all as Billye, was born July 18, 1920 in Miami, Oklahoma. Billye lived her entire life in Ottawa County until moving to the Norman area in 2005 to be near her son, Scotty Taylor and his family. Billye spent her early years in rural Miami. She met Howard C. Taylor at a carnival at the Miami fairgrounds. They married April 9, 1939 in Noel, Missouri. The newlyweds were stationed in Harlingen, Texas during Howard’s service in WWII. They returned to Miami, OK and in 1951, their only child, James Scott Taylor was born. He was the light of his mother’s life. She was happiest when he was home with his family for a visit to the house built by his father the year he was born. At the time of her passing, Billye was the oldest living member of the Ottawa Tribe. Billye was given the name, meh-noh-dah’-ah eh’-quah by Charles Dawes, then chief of the Ottawas. Translated, her name meant “good natured woman”. All who knew and loved her thought the name was the perfect one. Always putting the needs of family and friends ahead of her own, she was a tireless and faithful servant of the Lord and lived her life by the way of his example. Billye is survived by Scott and Jan Taylor of Norman, grandchildren, Addie (Grier) Rambo of Amarillo, Spencer (Ashley)Taylor of Norman, Sarah(John Mark) Aylor of Oklahoma City, great grandchildren, Olivia Tune, Owen and Claire Rambo and Asah Taylor. She is also survived by beloved nephews and nieces, Bill and Helen Watts, Bob and June Taylor, Blaine and Francie Taylor, Annette Wurtz, Zachary and Lisa Taylor, Dick and Debra Parcell, Marty and Carrie Taylor and many great nieces and nephews. Services are 10am Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Ottawa Indian Baptist Church, with Ed Thomas officiating. Interment will be at the Ottawa Cemetery with Dr. Kevin Dawes officiating. Services have been entrusted to Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Ottawa Children’s Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 110, Miami, OK 74355. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Taylor’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Billye Anne Taylor

July 18, 1920 - February 20, 2015