Ella Taylor

Ella May "Pat" Taylor 1928 - 2010 Ella May "Pat" Fillastre Taylor, age 82, of Gulf Breeze, FL, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The daughter of Arthur P. Fillastre and May Bowen Fillastre, she was born at her parents' home at 801 America Street in Baton Rouge, LA, August 25, 1928. She especially loved learning, the arts, libraries, travel, photography, computers and the movies. She was a proud feminist, member of the National Organization for Women, Democratic Party, and Amnesty International. Her favorite place to return to was the island of Oahu, Hawaii. She was known for her creativity, taste, style and elegance in fashion and home decor. One day outside her high school, University Lab School at Louisiana State University, she met her future husband Robert Roy Taylor Jr., a college freshman. They married in 1947 after he returned from WWII and a stint in the Navy. She graduated from LSU with a B.A. in 1949. She was the glue that held her family together traveling from duty station to duty station. Her first trip by ship across the Atlantic to join her husband overseas in post-War Germany many of the wives fell ill. Not only did she care for her own baby, she administered to the other wives and their children as well. As an army wife she lived in many places--Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Munich and Frankfurt, Germany; Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; Ft. Holabird, Baltimore, MD; Camp Zama, Japan; Ft. Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii. No matter where she ended up--a deserted farmhouse in post-war Germany or a small apartment in Baltimore--she managed to make the places home with taste and style. While living in Japan she worked as a Red Cross volunteer delivering books, games, and smiles to wounded young men evacuated to the Zama hospital. During these travels she studied at Johns Hopkins University, L.S.U. graduate school, and University of Hawaii working on her M.A. in speech pathology. She returned with her family to Baton Rouge when her husband retired in 1970. At this time she re-enrolled in the speech pathology graduate program at L. S. U. graduating with a masters degree in December 1976. She applied for and began her studies for a Ph.D. while also working as an executive for the childhood early intervention program in Baton Rouge. In 1978 she was hired by the Escambia County Schools in Pensacola, FL as a speech pathologist, when she relocated with her husband to Gulf Breeze, eventually working her way up to a supervisor position. She was an excellent diagnostician, and had a unique way of getting down on the floor with children and drawing even the most difficult case out. She was very proud of the fact that she was able to help so many children regain their voices. After she retired, she spent much of her time working on her photography, genealogy projects and visiting family across the country since family meant so much to her. She is survived by her husband; her brother Arthur P. Fillastre of Baton Rouge, LA; her children: Troy Taylor of Collierville, TN; Patricia Taylor of Austin, TX; and Tracy Taylor of Mission Viejo, CA; and grandchildren Alexandra Taylor and Nikolas Taylor. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 10 to 11am with services to directly follow at Rose Lawn Funeral in Gulf Breeze. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations may be made online at: http://support.operationsmile.org/goto/PatTaylorSmilesandVoices, or mailed to Operation Smile, 6535 Tidewater Dr., Norfolk, VA, 23509. Rose Lawn Funeral Home of Gulf Breeze, FL is in charge of the arrangements. You may offer condolences, share memories and sign the guestbook at www.roselawn-fh.com

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
10:00 AM

Service

Funeral Service

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
11:00 AM