Shirley Earlene Taylor

Shirley Earlene (Luttrell) Taylor, 89, of Great Falls passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, surrounded by family and friends. Her memorial service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10, 2021, at First English Lutheran Church with interment immediately following at Highland Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. She is survived by her daughters, Vickie (John) Ropp and Valerie (Tim) Ulery; son, Larry (Tanja) Taylor; granddaughters, Stacie (Phil) Nardinger, Jennifer (Jeff) Quick, and Leonie Taylor; grandson, Tyler (Catrina) Ulery; great-granddaughters Danni Lynn Nardinger, Alicyn, MacKenzie, Hailey, and Abigail Quick; great-grandson, Cooper Quick; sister, Gwendolyn “Peewee” (Dennis) Pfeffer; goddaughter, Victoria Bull; Lindsay(JJ Johnson) Love; extended family, Sylvia Bull, Rhiannon (Kurt Beals) Graybill, and Raphael (Marisa) Graybill; all of her Cherub Choir members; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Shirley Taylor was born February 16, 1932, in Nashville, TN to Luther Earl Luttrell Sr. and Wilhelmena Fredericka (Sears) Day. Shirley met the love of her life, Bill Taylor, when he offered to share his locker during junior high. After graduating from North Nashville High School in 1950, Bill and Shirley were married in 1951, thus beginning their 57 year adventure together. Bill then joined the United States Air Force, and his career led Shirley and the family across the continent, finally landing in Great Falls, where they retired. While an Air Force spouse, Shirley nurtured her children and community, serving as president of the NCO Wives Club and PTA, operating an ice cream shop on Central Avenue, working as a PBX operator, as well as volunteering for many church, community, and educational organizations. Throughout her life, Shirley enjoyed traveling, gardening (especially roses, tulips, and orchids), cooking, and a good, dry martini. She loved music, dance parties both formal and spontaneous, and her western movies. Most of all, she relished the company of family, friends, and her many “children.” Shirley nurtured many young hearts, minds, and bodies from diapers and bottles through doctorates and advanced degrees. Shirley, with her kindness, creativity, and a hefty dose of patience, was the common denominator in countless children’s lives and successes. Over the course of over 50 years, Shirley was very involved at First English Lutheran Church where she fulfilled many roles: chief among them as founder and director of the Cherub Choir. Continuing her commitment to education, Shirley was instrumental in establishing the live-lily Memorial Easter Cross at First English over 45 years ago. To date, $56,000 has been raised to help hundreds of college students in the region. Shirley’s life was guided by faith and filled with tradition. Though her zip codes may have changed, Shirley maintained traditions passed down to her and established her own that her family now carries forward. Included in these were carousel cakes for every first birthday, doll cakes for every sweet sixteen, carols at Christmas, black eyed peas on New Year’s, Dallas Cowboy games on Thanksgiving, and special recipes galore, including: sourdough biscuits, corn bread, and springerles. Along with her sense of humor, her laugh and heart were warm and big enough to fill any room. She is loved and will be missed from Montana to Germany to Tennessee, and our community is made better by her time and presence here. Shirley Taylor was preceded in death by her husband, William Thurman Taylor; father, Luther Earl Luttrell Sr.; mother, Wilhelmena Fredericka Day; sister, Mary Catherine “Babe” Knight; brother, Luther Earl Jr. “Buzzy” Luttrell; and grandson, Taylor Ulery. In honor of Shirley’s curiosity, exploration, and quest for knowledge, the family has established the Taylor Legacy Scholarship Fund. Each year, scholarships will be awarded to candidates who embody Shirley’s commitment to learning and self-betterment. Memorials may be given to the community Taylor Legacy Scholarship Fund at https://gofund.me/115f9ea1 or c/o Shirley Taylor, 525 4th Ave N, Great Falls, MT 59401. Shirley fully believed in paying it forward and we welcome this opportunity to do so. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com and/or www.legacy.com.