Tootsie Taylor

Our beautiful wife and mother, Tootsie Taylor, passed from this life, Monday, June 30, 2025, she is singing and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation, Thursday, July 3rd in the Garden Room at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, beginning at 9:00 a.m., funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m. Tootsie’s family welcomes you to gather with them after the service share and support them in remembrance of Tootsie.

Tootsie Taylor was born, August 21, 1927 in Dunn, North Carolina to the late Vernon and Wilma Massengill. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. While teaching school at Fort Bragg, she met her future husband, First Lieutenant Dick Taylor. They fell in love and married three months later, April 26, 1952 at Hood Memorial Christian Church back in her hometown. After Dick returned from his service in Korea, Tootsie and Dick lived in Houston and College Station before calling Waco home in 1959.

Tootsie’s love for music was evident throughout her life. She was a choir director, music teacher, pianist and organist. Tootsie played daily her entire life, it brought her great joy and she loved to engage others at a party if there was a piano in the room. She and Dick were devoted members of Lakewood Christian Church (now Renew Church) for over 66 years. Tootsie was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, one brother and her grandson, Andrew Ford.

Tootsie is survived by her husband of over 73 years, Dick Taylor; her three children, Vicki Ford, Joe Taylor and Nan McBean and their spouses; along with 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and numerous other loving family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Renew Church, 6509 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas 76710.