Eleanor Taylor

Eleanor Josephine Pope Taylor, wife, mother, artist and musician, died at 2:05 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, at her home in Baton Rouge surrounded by her family and friends. She was 85. Known to her family and friends as Jo, she was born on Sept. 8, 1923, to her parents, Daddy Jim and Mother Betty Pope in Albemarle, N.C. She grew up in High Point, N.C., where she graduated from High Point Senior High School in 1940. She received her bachelor's degree from Woman's College, now UNC-Greensboro, in Greensboro, N.C., in 1946. Jo volunteered for the Air Force Reserve and was appointed a first lieutenant in May of 1952. She was called up to active duty a month later and eventually found her way to the Chemical Corps Medical Laboratories at the Army Chemical Center at Edgewood, Md., where she served during the Korean War. It was here that she met the love of her life, James H. Jim Taylor Jr. They married on Nov. 28, 1953. Jo was honorably discharged from the service the next spring and began a family when her first child, James, was born in September 1954. A son, Robert, was born on May 16, 1956, and a daughter, Lizabeth Anne was born on Jan. 10, 1958. Jo, Jim and family moved to Baton Rouge in 1959 where Jim was employed for his entire career at the Esso, later Exxon Research and Development Laboratory. Jo and Jim continued to live in Baton Rouge, except for several years in the '70s when the family transferred to England, and later to Houston. Jo was a talented piano player, organist and painter. Joe began playing piano at Ward Street Methodist Church in High Point at age 12, and she continued to play church piano and organ wherever she lived until the year 2000. Most recently, she was the organist at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, where she began playing in 1960. Jo was also heavily involved in the church's Adult Choir and was the director of the Children's Choir for many years. Jo also organized the St. Paul Players, a musical ensemble that specialized in Broadway show tunes. Her paintings of rural and coastal life in Louisiana and North Carolina, as well as her portraits, are treasured by her family and friends. Before her illness, Jo was an active volunteer for the Baton Rouge Opera and Meals on Wheels. Jo will be sadly missed by her husband of 55 years, Jim; children, Jim Taylor and wife Pamela, Rob Taylor and wife Marguerite, and Liz Wright and husband Peter; and grandchildren, Andrew Wright, Dylan Taylor, Emily Wright and Madelyn Taylor. Jo is also survived by her loving sister-in-law, Shirley Pope; and niece, Patricia Pope, both of Covington, Ky. The entire family will always be grateful to Jo's special friend, Charleen Aarons, who so lovingly cared for her in her final years. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Daddy Jim and Mother Betty, and brother, Earl Pope, who were of High Point. Visitation at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2021 Tara Blvd., on Monday, Oct. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. until service at 2:30 p.m. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway. Contributions in Jo's name may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Vocal Music Fund. Arrangements by Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Visitation

St. Paul Lutheran Church
2021 Tara Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70806
Monday, October 13, 2008
58pm 101408 12:302:30pm

Service

St. Paul Lutheran Church
2021 Tara Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70806
Monday, October 13, 2008
2:30pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816

Memorial Contributions

St. Paul Lutheran Church Vocal Music Fund
2021 Tara Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70806