Lana Lillian Taylor
April 1, 1943 - July 26, 2016

Lana Taylor, 73 of McKinney, TX, formerly of Hastings, IA, passed away July 26, 2016 in Texas. Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at the Hastings United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in the Farm Creek Cemetery near Henderson. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the following -
American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org/index or to the Paul & Lana Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund through Southwest Iowa Education Foundation (donations cannot be made online, mail to Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation, Attn: Tori Christie, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.)


Lana Lillian Taylor, daughter of Millard and Alice (Smith) Lovejoy, was born April 1, 1943 in Bellaire, Ohio and entered into eternal life on July 26, 2016. She graduated in the top of her class from Red Oak High School in 1961 and soon after married Paul James Taylor on July 20, 1962, at the Presbyterian Church in Red Oak, Iowa. Lana earned a nursing degree from Iowa Western Community College in 1968 and was voted president of her graduating class. In 2003, after a 37-year nursing career at the Glenwood Resource Center, Lana retired and the couple moved to McKinney, Texas to live near their children and grandchildren.

Lana was a pioneer in pursing her nursing career while raising two sets of twins and always living the values of family first. Paul, Lana and family enjoyed camping, boating, summer vacations at the Lake of the Ozarks and regularly attended the Taylor Family reunions in Hermitage, Missouri. She also kept busy reading books, solving crossword puzzles, spending time in her vegetable and flower garden, supporting her children and grandchildren at various academic and sporting events, and socializing with friends while waiting tables at the E-Stop on Friday nights, (We suspect more time was spent laughing than working). Lana volunteered her time and talents on the Nishna Valley School Board, and writing the column "Hastings Happenings" for the Malvern Leader. She cherished her life-long friendships within the community.

During retirement, Lana enjoyed going on cruises, spending weekends at Cedar Creek Lake, family vacations (especially the trips back to Iowa), all family gatherings, and supporting her grandchildren in their various activities. She loved watching academic and sporting events, watching several TV Series including "The Walking Dead", "Law & Order", and her favorite show preference was watching Sheldon on the "Big Bang Theory". Lana continued serving as a guardian to residents at the Glenwood Resource Center, and giving Paul a really hard time.

After Paul's passing, Lana moved into the Pioneer Ridge Independent Retirement community, where she met many friends and quickly became a regular at the card game "Hand and Foot", "Dime" bingo and organizing the weekly "Brain Games", where she became known as the 'smartest person in the home'. Lana enjoyed her daily visits with her children and grandchildren while anxiously awaiting the birth of her 7th great-grandchild "Baby James", who is due in November.

Lana is now reunited with her parents, Millard and Alice Lovejoy; husband, Paul Taylor; infant grandson, Zachary James-Taylor Frink; brother-in-law, Darrell Taylor, and sister-in-law, Darlene Taylor.

Lana is survived by her children, Shelley Vaughn of Emerson, IA, Sheila Taylor (Randy) Frink, and Chad Taylor, all of McKinney, TX, Jennifer Taylor (Jim) Muncrief of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Ashlee Vaughn of Hastings, IA, Kade Frink of Dallas, Justina Vaughn (Denny) Reeves of Silver City, IA, Kole Frink of Plano, TX, Kaylyn Frink (Ryan) Millard of Frisco, TX, Drew Taylor of San Marcos, TX, Reid Taylor of McKinney, and Ginny Ann Vaughn of Emerson, IA; great-grandchildren, Quinn, Connor & Logan Vaughn of Hastings, IA, Jaylyn, Jazmyn & Jaxon Reeves of Silver City, IA; brother, Bob Lovejoy of Divide, CO; nephews and nieces, Danny Paul Taylor of Red Oak, IA, Danielle Taylor (Tom) Devine of Princeton, NJ, Jimmy John Taylor of Malvern, IA, Troy Taylor of Tremonton, UT, Jason (Dana) Lovejoy of Corvallis, OR, Jill Lovejoy (John) Connolly of Woodland Park, CO; uncle, Bill Lovejoy of Brevard, NC; brother-in-law, Danny (Mickey) Taylor of Barnegat, NJ; sister-in-law, Nancy Taylor of Lincoln, NE; Goddaughter, Jaylee Meyer of Hastings, IA and many cousins. Her lively spirit will carry on through her family; many extended family members; and friends from every walk of life.

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