Mrs. Ellen “Dottie” Gravely Taylor, age 81, a resident of 103 Heritage Drive, Washington died Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home.

 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, October 11, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Washington.

 

Mrs. Taylor was born in Washington on December 2, 1931. She was the daughter of the late Herbert Carlyle Gravely and Lura Brogden Gravely, a respected tobacconist and mathematics teacher. She attended local schools and graduated from Washington High School, and received her degree in elementary education from UNC-G.  In 1949 she represented Beaufort County as “Miss Washington” in the Miss North Carolina pageant in Wilmington. Mrs. Taylor taught in the Beaufort County schools and at Pamlico Community School during her teaching career. She grew up in the First United Methodist Church of Washington, teaching Sunday School, Bible School, and serving as a member of the Connie Howard Circle and the Chancel Bells Choir. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed tennis and golf in her younger years, playing in the Wednesday Night Bridge Club, searching for shells on Atlantic Beach at her family’s summer home and being by the Pamlico River. She was a Southern lady, proud of her heritage, her hometown, her friendships, and most of all, her family.

 

On August 8, 1953, she married George William “Buster” Taylor, Jr., who preceded her in death, July 6, 2008.

 

Mrs. Taylor is survived by her children, Leigh Taylor Stanley and husband, Spencer Stanley, G. William Taylor III and wife, Susie C. Taylor, Virginia “Ginny” Taylor Pfeiffer and husband, Robert Pfeiffer all of Washington; and six grandchildren, Ellen Stanley Gorham and husband, Kris of Washington, D.C., Spencer Gregg Stanley IV of Raleigh, George William “Will” Taylor IV of Washington, Suzanne L. Taylor of Raleigh, Leigh Ann Pfeiffer and Alice Taylor Pfeiffer both of Washington.

 

The family will receive friends from 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at the home of her son and daughter in law, William and Susie Taylor, 109 Justin Drive, Washington.

 

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2418 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 206, Raleigh, N.C. 27607, or Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, N.C.  27609 or the First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street, Washington, N.C.  27889.

 

Online condolences may be sent to the family and the video tribute may be viewed by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

 

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Taylor family.