May 13, 2004
BLOOMINGTON -- Iladora M. Holt-Taylor, 61, of 700 E. Walnut St., Bloomington, died at 5:30 a.m. Monday (May 10, 2004) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Bloomington.
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday memorial service at College Park Christian Church, Normal, the Rev. Brent Salm officiating.
Burial: private family graveside service Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington.
Visitation: family will receive friends after the memorial service at the church. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials: in lieu of flowers, to College Park Christian Church, Normal; Juvenile Diabetes Association; Midwest Kidney Foundation; or Jesus Coffee House.
Survivors: husband, H. Roger Taylor; daughter, Tracie A. Holt, Bloomington; two sisters, Eleanor (John) Gordon, Port Charlotte, Fla., and Leta Hamm, Fort Myers, Fla.; a half brother, Larry R. Hamm, San Gabriel, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
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The following was written by classmates for our 50th Reunion Booklet. Led by a dedicated team of local classmates, the project was titled:
"BHS CLASS OF '60 FOOTPRINTS"
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The last time I saw her she was being pushed in a wheel chair by her husband of a number of years. I believe that Roger, her last husband treated her well. She endured a hard life.
I undoubtedly knew Iladora better than anyone in our class. We went thru grade and high school together. I first knew her in first grade. "Way back then" kindergarten was not required and her family was too financially challenged to send her to kindergarten.
I never knew too much about her family. I believe she had a number of older brothers and sisters. Her father died relatively early leaving Iladora and her mom to fend for themselves thru much of Iladora's school years.
While I may not have been a real close friend of Iladora's, we got to know each other pretty well. She is the only classmate I can truly say accompanied me all thru grade and high school.
She frequently had a big smile on her face even though one would think she wouldn't have much to smile about. She was more outgoing than I but didn't seem to make many friends.
Between my sophomore year at NCHS and junior year at BHS, my family moved from Normal to Bloomington less than 2 weeks before school started. I was sure I'd feel lonely and scared as I would know no one at BHS. I was so surprised to see Iladora walking the halls of old BHS downtown too. Neither of us knew the other had moved to Bloomington.
At BHS she got into the day work program so less chance for her to know her classmates. I don't remember if this was both her junior and senior year - or just senior year.
After graduation she came to where I lived several times and we had lunch together. I do remember going with her to see the movie "Dr, Zhivago" at the old Castle theater on Washington St. in 1966 or 1967.
She worked a number of years in the kitchen at the old Mennonite Hospital on Main St.
Iladora was married at least twice. Not sure, maybe a 3rd time. The first marriage didn't work out at all. Their daughter, Tracy, was a result of that union and a joy to Iladora. The two of them lived in Washington, IL. for a while for a job opportunity. Tracy was good at keeping her mom on her toes. Lots of energy and she looked like her mom in her younger days.
I lost track of her for a number of years although I would happen to see her in stores in Bloomington after she moved back to Mc Lean County. She married again later, to Roger and they lived in El Paso for a while and then in Gridley.
She developed health problems in her later years. Complications of diabetes, I believe. Later in life she did indeed develop diabetic problems. And, as I remember, some pulmonary problems as well. But she was never a complainer. I don’t believe I ever saw Iladora come to our clinic without a smile and a wonderful attitude. She simply accepted things that happened to her as God’s plan, I assume. She certainly didn’t complain.
Her life was never easy, but her perseverance was worthy of respect. Hopefully, the Lord has blessed her many times over since her death.
(Roselyn Nelson)