Janice Marie Taylor
Janice Marie Taylor, 86, of York, NE passed away on April 19, 2023 peacefully at home. Janice was born on October 7, 1936 to Neola and Oscar Beetley in Fairbury, NE. She attended Fairbury High School where she played in the band and sang in the choir. After she graduated in 1955, she went to Fairbury College and received a 2-year degree in Education. During this time, she developed lifelong friendships with her “friends of the 50s.”
After graduating with her degree in education, she started her first job teaching second grade in Osceola, NE. It was here that she met the love of her life and basketball coach, Les Taylor. They were married June 7, 1959. They spent many joyful hours dancing and attending Nebraska Football games with friends. After they were married, she taught second grade in Nehawka, NE for one year. The couple spent several years in Lincoln and Omaha, where they were blessed with two daughters, Lesley and Sandra.
Jan and Les moved to York, NE in 1971. Jan attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and earned her Bachelor’s degree in education in 1972. Jan taught elementary school in York until she retired in 1999.
After retirement, Jan spent winters visiting her grandchildren in Arizona and summers playing with her grandchildren in York. She enjoyed attending Garden Club and playing bridge at the Country Club. She loved sitting in her sunroom watching people go by.
Her words written to her family in 2021 will always be with us:
“My family means so much to me! I have had a wonderful life! There have been sad times in my life and I pray for them every day. My home is warm in the winter and cool every summer. Love you all! I am so proud of my family! I am the happiest person in the world.”
She was preceded in death by her husband Leslie Taylor, parents, and grandson Logan Langner. She is survived by daughters Sandra Goodman (Ondrea) and Lesley Langner (David); grandchildren Megan Brewer (John), Maggie Langner, Eric Goodman (Stella), Ryan Goodman (Ally), Jack Langner, Brett Goodman and Carley Langner; great-grandchildren Brayden, Connor, Thaya, Avalene, Elijah, Charlotte, Matthew, Owen and Lilah.
Memorial services are scheduled for 10:00 am, Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church in York with the Reverend Trudy Hanke officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday at the Fairbury Cemetery in Fairbury, Nebraska. Jan has been cremated so there will be no viewing or visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, First United Methodist Church in York or to the York Garden Club. Condolences may be left for the family at www.metzmortuary.com. Metz Mortuary in York is handling the arrangements.
