Ms. Lelia Dora Taylor, 89, of Elizabethton, went home to be with her Lord, on Sunday, December 28, 2014, with her family and close friends by her side, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
She was the daughter of the late Pearl Estes Richardson and Noah Richardson Sr. and was born in Elizabethton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Elwayne Cole, and three brothers, Roy Richardson, Orville Richardson and Noah Richardson II.
Mrs. Taylor was a member of Dungan Chapel Baptist Church and was retired from North American Rayon. She loved to spend time with her family and friends and especially loved to cook for them. Her pastimes included crocheting, quilting, gardening, cooking and canning the food from her garden.
She is survived by her children, Bernice Arnold and her husband, Glen, and Connie Oliver and her husband, Bobby; her grandchildren, Lisa Heaton and her husband, Ronnie, Robin Arnold and her fiancé, Tom Crabtree, Rebecca Lubag and her husband, Roy, Amanda Vance and her husband, David, Jana Cole and her fiancé, Travis Lethcoe, Noah Cole and his wife, Macey, and David Spradlin; her great-grandchildren, Prenthia Buckles and her husband, Joe, Cassandra Loveday, Joshua Lubag, Cassidy Lubag, Andrew Vance, Olivia Cole, Blackley and Tristin; and her great-great-grandchildren, Mollie Buckles and Addilyn Buckles. A very special friend, Brenda Timbs, and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Close friends and family may call from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, December 31, at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. A graveside service will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Garland Cemetery (Bulldog Hollow, Stoney Creek) with Rev. Eric Heaton and Mr. Noah Richardson III, minister, officiating. Active pallbearers will be Noah Cole, Travis Lethcoe, Joe Buckles, Roy Lubag, David Vance and Bobby Perkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Heaton, Bobby Oliver, Glen Arnold, Gene Timbs, Tom Crabtree and members of the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class at Dungan Chapel Baptist Church. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet the family at the funeral home at noon on Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 2335 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City, TN 37604; the National Kidney Association, 4450 Walker Blvd.-Suite 2, Knoxville, TN 37917; or the Carter County Emergency and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 682, Elizabethton, TN 37644. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book or by fax (423) 542-9499.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Taylor family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.