June E. Taylor

June Ellen Taylor “Mim” passed away on November 13, 2023, in Bridgeport, Texas at Bridgeport Medical Lodge. She was born on June 14, 1927, in Hurst, Texas to William R. and Julina (Tomlin) Hurst. She married Gordon E. Taylor on December 20, 1949. He preceded her in death in July of 2012.

June graduated from Monahans High School in 1944 and Southwest Texas State in 1948 with a degree in Music Education. She related traveling to her first teaching position in Premont, Texas. Her mother put her on the bus in Stephenville and after traveling several hours, she arrived in Premont around 11:00 p.m., although she had no idea where Premont was! The bus dropped her off at a little gas station and she related that no one around her was speaking in English. Finally, the superintendent of the school district met her and took her to a house where she would live with two other single teachers.

She met Gordon in Premont on a blind double date with her best friend. She wasn’t making much money and he invited her to go out and eat and see a football game between his alma mater, Texas A & I and her alma mater, Southwest Texas State. When they got to the restaurant, she ordered a steak and although she said it was a very good steak, she could only eat half of it. She laid down her fork and said she was done. Gordon said, “You haven’t eaten your steak.” She replied, “I’m full.” He said, “I paid for it and you’re going to eat it.” June then said, “You eat it!”

After that rocky start, they were married for almost 63 years. June taught school until Karen was born in 1951. When Karen started talking, Mommy, came out Mimmie and eventually it was shortened to Mim after Jo Ellen and Elaine were born. From that time on the whole family called her Mim.

Mim always loved playing, teaching, and performing music. She organized children’s choirs, sang in church and community choirs, and played piano at church. Every family holiday included a music program with her children and grandchildren in the leading roles. She even did some singing and preaching during the programs! When she and Gordon moved into Willow Bend Assisted Living in Denton, she even provided sing-a-longs for the residents.

She was proud of her family and attended all her girls’ school and church activities. She was an ardent sports fan, in fact a real “fanatic” when her girls were involved, being quite vocal most of the time. It got to the point where Gordon refused to sit with her during the games and she was more than once admonished by officials to tone down her “enthusiasm.”  She brought the same “enthusiasm” to her grandchildren’s sporting events.

Mim was a strong woman of faith and that faith carried her through the loss of her daughter, being bedridden for a year after falling and breaking her hip, and a year of isolation during Covid. She chose joy over sadness one day at a time and she shared that joy with everyone she encountered. She truly “never met a stranger” and was always ready to share Jesus, the source of her joy, with others.

June is survived by two daughters, Jo Ellen Knight and husband, Bill of Sanger, Texas and Elaine Hays and husband Tracy of Runaway Bay, Texas; her nine grandchildren, David Knight and wife Bridget of Decatur, Katherine Myers of Sanger, Taylor Hays and wife Krista of Lubbock, Joanna Piatt and husband Jake of Denton, Rachel Amezquita and husband, Joshua of Spring Branch, Ryan Hays of Coppell, and Caleb Hays of Dallas. She is survived by her 15 great-grandchildren, Kynslee and Kamdyn Knight, Dylan and Avery Myers, Hollyn and Brynn Hays, Carson, Kade, KJ, Rae, Noami and Mia Piatt, Lincoln, Isla, and Jonathan Amezquita. She is also survived by her nieces, Harriet Almeguer and husband Jim of Spring Branch, Martha Ragley, Faber, Virgina, and great-niece Sarah Grebe and husband Travis; great-grandnephew, Harrison of New Braunfels.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Taylor; her daughter, Karen Bijak; her sister, Naivaline Dickerson and husband Harry; and her nieces, Rebecca Dickerson and Loretta Karbowski.

Funeral Service will be 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at The First Baptist Church of Bridgeport with burial to follow in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.