Frances (Frankie) Taylor passed away January 12, 2015, at Santa Marta Retirement home in Olathe, Kansas.

Frankie was born in Slater, Missouri, on October 23, 1929. She was a proud daughter of Robert and Mabel Stafford, a local farmer and cattleman known throughout the area and at the Kansas City Stockyards.

She leaves behind her husband, William Del Taylor at Santa Marta; sister, Kitty Sue Prester and family of Fairfield, VA; daughter Kathy and husband Chris Stockard of Kansas City; Cindy and husband Dr. Joe Waeckerle of Prairie Village; Becky Samples and husband Scott Gifford of Southgate, TX; and son, William D. Taylor II, of Fairway; grandchildren: Adam Stockard; LJG Aaron Stockard (Nuke Sub officer), spouse Jenna and great-granddaughter Olive; Austin Stockard, a recent honor graduate of Avila College; Alex Stockard, an honor student at Rockhurst University; Katie Mitchell of Kansas City; Chase Waeckerle, honor student at Rockhurst University; Blake Waeckerle, honor student at St. Louis University; Garrett Waeckerle, honor student at the Citadel; Jonathon Taylor of Overland Park and three great-granddaughters: Izzy, Francie and Beatrice; Payne Samples; and honor student Troy Samples at Texas University in Arlington; and many cousins and friends.

When in secondary school in Slater, Frankie was selected to represent her speech class in an extemporization speech contest at now Central Missouri State University receiving first place honors. Frankie possessed great intellectual abilities and advanced her knowledge by attending school in St. Louis and Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO. She used these abilities in the medical field. She worked as a medical laboratory technician for seven years in a local medical clinic in Marshall. Her medical doctors soon realized her abilities to diagnose ailments quickly and efficiently. At that point the patient was first interviewed by Frankie and the report was sent to the physician. After marriage to William Del Taylor they moved to the Kansas City area and she continued her employment for three pediatricians on the Plaza with the same results.

With four young children she terminated her employment to give her children proper attention. She was a superstar mother and her children are quick to let you know this. Her love for family and friends was most evident…she possessed no desire to ever hate! Her communication skills were always clear, clean, concise, proper, appropriate and often quite humorous.

Frankie was later involved in many local civic affairs. She was selected as a local PTA President and then the local PTA area council representative.

Although ordinarily an elective office of the city council of Kansas City, MO, Frankie was voted and placed on the Senior Citizen Council for a four year term. After the four year term expired, they voted again for her to serve another four year term, which she accepted.

She was a well-known avid duplicate bridge player with much success in a number of clubs and also played with her husband, Bill in a Red Bridge neighborhood club.

Her early morning activity was to obtain the daily copy of the crossword puzzle which she seemed to solve.

Funeral Mass and Visitation

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 am, Sat., Jan. 17, 2015, at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 am. Burial in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.

Memorial Contributions

The family suggests memorial contributions to Catholic Community Hospice, 9740 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.