Judith Diane (Conkling) Taylor

KEWANEE - Judith Diane (Conkling) Taylor, 71, of Kewanee, passed away at 2:05 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN.

Cremation has been accorded and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, February, 21 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee. Rev. Paul Copeland will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, February 20 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Internment will be in Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorials may be directed or designated to cancer research at Mayo Clinic, Abilities Plus, or to a future educational scholarship for the community being created by the family in Judith's name.

She was born September 28, 1945 in Fairfield, IA, the daughter of Milton Lain and Mary Ellen (Field) Conkling. Judith was raised in New York where she graduated from Shaker High School in Latham, New York.  After completing her undergraduate degree in education and graduating from Monmouth College, IL, she married William Alvin Taylor on August 5, 1967 in Latham, NY. He survives of Kewanee, as do, a daughter, Erin Leigh Taylor Bennouna (Mohammed Ali Bennouna) of Naperville, IL and their children: Tarik, Alia and Sophia, a son, Matthew Lain Taylor (Jill Streicher Taylor) of Stuttgart, Germany and their children; William, Benjamin and Lain, a daughter, Catherine Ann Taylor McDoniel (George McDoniel) of Orland Park, IL and their children; Riley, Taylor and Luke and a son, Brian William Taylor (Nicole Aby Taylor) of Kewanee and their children; Quentin, Corbin, Maxwell, Mitchell and Claire. She was also survived by two brothers, Michael Conkling of Whitefish, MT and James Conkling of Bloomfield, CO. Judith's immediate and extended family, combined with her community of friends were the foundation of her wonderful life.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

Judith was a grade school teacher for Kewanee Community Schools for over 35 years where she joyously gave her all to the children of Kewanee. Her connection to her students filled her heart with pride and happiness, for she truly loved them all.  While teaching Judith obtained her Master's of Science in Education from Western Illinois University.  Through her higher education at Western Illinois, she was proud and honored to be involved in innovative studies of teacher professional development in Science, as cross-curriculum ideas were being introduced to the classroom.   She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Illinois Reading Council, Illinois Retired Teacher’s Association, Chapter CS P.E.O., Kewanee Woman’s Club, the Evening Garden Club and Kewanee Care Auxiliary where she was a bingo volunteer at the Kewanee Care Home. Judith loved golden retrievers, was an avid reader and belonged to a local book club, Bridge group and Bunco group. Judith felt blessed always to be involved with the best of humanity and loved life, family and friends until her beautiful end.  

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