Gertrude "Trudy" Allard Taylor made a strong finish of this life and transitioned peacefully Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.
Born at home on April 24, 1926, to Phyllis Ragsdale and Ray Harpine Allard, she was the fourth of five children. At the age of six, she lost her father to a sudden illness. Her mother took the young family under her wing and became a beloved schoolteacher until she retired 55 years later at the age of 77. Her mother lived another 23 years.
Trudy graduated from Vienna High School and at the young age of fifteen attended Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina. She later attended the University of Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in education. Trudy had a lifelong love of learning, a gift for imparting what she knew to others, and she taught countless classes of fourth grade students over her 30 years tenure at Bayliss School.
Trudy loved to play the cello.
She was preceded in death by a son, Ray Allard Wilson; a brother, Ray H. Allard Jr.; a brother, George D. Allard; a sister, Jeanette Allard Hastings; and her husband, Charles D. Taylor.
Trudy is survived by her sister, Mary Ellen "Sunny" Wheeler; her son, Robert C. Wilson (Patti); granddaughters Christy R. Herlyn (Ryan), Molly R. Wilson, Medley C. Ford (Clay), J. Taylor Abney (Jared) and Chase A. Jones (Graham); and great-grandchildren Kaylee Ray Payne, Kayden Allard Herlyn, Jack Wilson Dearing, Ella Chase Dearing, Caroline Taylor Dearing, Claire Allard Kasiar, Henry Ray Kasiar, Karnes Allard Ford, Wilson Alane Ford, Maxine Taylor Ford, Cale Matthew Abney, James Crawford Abney, Jefferson Boyd Abney and McCauley Graham Jones.
Trudy also cared deeply for Renee Gotkin and Renee's grandson, Dylan Vaughn.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10:30 a.m. with a one-hour visitation before the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bullfish Swim Team at P.O. Box 544 Harrisburg, IL 62946.
Arrangements have been in care of the J. M. Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg.
