Obituaries

Norma Lee Riley Taylor

March 14, 1929 - October 1, 2025

Carried in the arms of Jesus, Norma Lee Riley Taylor, 96, went to Heaven, October 1, 2025, to join her husband of nearly 76 years. Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Nan, and Aunt…Teacher, Principal, Friend, and Neighbor, Norma Taylor wore many hats in her lifetime and was forever trying to “keep all her ducks in a row.” She made us all believe “pigs just might fly” as she accomplished—one after another—amazing tasks others might have deemed impossible—bolstered by her belief in God, in her country, and in herself. Her incredible work ethic and desire to make a difference brought about changes in the lives of all she encountered. Born in Carbondale, West Virginia, March 14, 1929, to Zella Mae Holland and William Meredith Riley, Norma was the elder daughter of six children. She graduated from East Bank High School (where she was a rare female trombone player) and earned college degrees from West Virginia State College and Marshall University and completed course work at West Virginia University. In West Virginia, she began as an elementary teacher, before taking on the challenge of being a secondary school principal in a day and time when females were not selected for such duties.

Later, after her first retirement, she moved to Florida in 1989 and returned to teaching at Polk City Elementary. She eventually retired not once but twice from that assignment, and, given the chance, she would no doubt have gone back. Married to the love of her life, Herbert Leonard Taylor, on September 13, 1947, in London, West Virginia. Norma’s survivors include–daughter, Cathy Taylor Bell, Lakeland; and sons Stephen Lee Taylor, Rosemont, OR; and Michael Andrew Taylor, Polk City. Grandchildren Cassie Rule (Joseph IV), Oviedo; Natalie Wolfe (Ian), Portland, OR; Nick Taylor (fiancée Lilly Craig), South Lake Tahoe, CA; Tyrone Thomas, Lakeland, and Catrina Thomas (fiancé Nick Larson), Brooklyn, NY. Great grandchildren Chloe Viruet (Bryan), Joseph Rule V, Nathaniel and Cate Bagomolny, and Crew Thomas, and great-great grandchild Brayson Viruet, as well as  numerous nieces and nephews and friends and his loving, caring “family” at Lake Gibson Village.

Mrs. Taylor was a member of the First Church of God, Winter Haven, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and worked with children as Director of the Bible Mountaineers Program. She and her “Herbie” were avid fans of the Cincinnati Reds and later liked watching Rays baseball and Orlando Magic basketball games. She enjoyed bowling and, later in life, golf and corn hole as well. A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Taylor will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the First Church of God in Winter Haven. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that Norma Taylor designated donations be made to the Lakeland Good Shepherd Hospice, 12470 Telecom Drive Suite 300W, Temple Terrace, FL 33637 or online at chaptershealth.org Once Mr. Taylor passed on July 22, 2024, life for his Norma was never the same. There is no question the two of them are now walking the Streets of Gold, hand-in-hand.