Helen Taylor

Helen Taylor, 86, of rural Eureka, died on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at her home.

She was born October 29, 1936, in Merced, Calif., the daughter of Joaquin and Mary (Perez) Martinez. She was the sixth oldest of fourteen children.

In 1959, she married Richard Taylor. While he served in the United States Air Force, the family lived in many states and in Europe for a time.

She was a stay-at-home mother. Once her children were all in school, she went to college to get her teaching degree. She was an English- as-Second-Language teacher for junior and senior high students. She was once voted Teacher of The Year. She retired to Eureka in 2000, after more than 20 years teaching at the Victor Valley School District in California.

She was a member of the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary and the Greenwood County Community Benefit, where she was a past secretary.

She is survived by her children: Kim Fogle of Eureka; Richard Taylor of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kelly Adams of Anacortes, Wash.; and Ronnie Taylor of Howard; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and siblings: Lupe Reyes of Fresno, Calif.; William Martinez of Colton, Calif.; Inez Mireles of Merced, Calif.; Sally Knapp of Wilder, Idaho; JoAnn Gonzales of Fresno, Calif.; Victor Martinez of Sylmar, Calif.; Jimmy Martinez of Tucson, Ariz.; and Abigail Gonzalez of Tucson, Ariz.; She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; and siblings: Paul, Fernando, Mildred, Wilbur, and Mary.

Funeral services were held on Monday, January 9, at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Pastor Jerry Clark officiating. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association or to the Greenwood County Hospital Auxiliary. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.