Betty (Fish) Taylor

Betty (Fish) Taylor, 92, of Augusta, KS, passed away Friday, February 17, 2023, surrounded by family in her Augusta home. 

Visitation 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta, KS. Service 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Augusta, KS. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery Augusta, KS.

Betty was born in Wichita, KS, on June 28, 1930 to the late Bessie (Vogel) and Merle Fish. On August 1, 1948, she married, Jack Taylor, in Wichita, KS, who preceded her in death just two months prior. Betty is survived by daughter, Jacque Wilcox and husband Paul; son, David Taylor and wife Mary; grandchildren, Jason Rawlings, (Teresa), Jarrod Rawlings (Lainie), Ty Wills (Charlotte), Todd Wills (Shala), Tiffany Pressnell (Keith), Logan Ohman (Kyle), Kelsey Zorn (Nathan); 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judy Wills Lee, and brothers Earl Micnhimer and Bill Fish.

Betty grew up in Wichita, KS, where she attended Allison Intermediate and North High School.  Betty worked at Cord's Bakery on Douglas Street, starting at the age of 14. This is where she met her future husband, Jack Taylor who was 16 years old.

Just a couple months after Betty's High School graduation and turning 18 years old, she married Jack.  They resided in Wichita with daughters Jacque and Judy where they eventually built a modest home on Taylor Family land.
In 1953, Betty and Jack moved to Augusta so they could both work for Jack's Uncle and Aunt, Charles and Thelma Lehr, at Lehr's restaurant where Betty was a waitress.  Their son David was born two years after their arrival to Augusta. Betty and Jack later took ownership of Lehr's Restaurant and Motel. 

As the children were growing up, Betty enjoyed playing cards with other couples who became lifelong friends.  When the new bowling alley was built, Lehr's Restaurant sponsored a team and for many years she was part of the bowling league with her best friend, Norma.  She loved sewing, needlework and baking cookies for her children and grandchildren.

Betty and Jack enjoyed the summers in Colorado at their cabin.  Betty was the most gracious hostess and she made great friends in their Riverside and Allenspark communities.  Betty had the most brilliant story telling ability.  She was able to recall such valuable details that made her stories come to life.  This ability fed the creation of her autobiographical book, "Memories By Request". 

Betty was devoted to her faith, belonging to both the First Baptist Church of Augusta since 1954 and as a summer associate member of the Allenspark Community Church in Colorado since 1992.  She was a member of the Loyal Heirs Sunday School class, taught Sunday School in the primary department for seventeen years, was the Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, was part of the Christian Education committee and played in the Bell Choir for over twenty years.
Betty led a faithful and joyous life where she is now reunited with Jack just short of their 75th wedding anniversary, daughter Judy and many other family and friends, free to entertain again and tell her glorious stories.

Memorial donations to First Baptist Church 1501 State St. Augusta, KS 67010, or Allenspark Community Church, 16 Washington St., Allenspark, CO 80510.