Mrs. Vera Elizabeth Chisolm Taylor

Mrs. Vera Elizabeth Chisolm Taylor, 97, of Hendersonville, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2013.

What a special life Vera Taylor gave to so many people. She was a gift to all who knew her. She will be missed as a family anchor, a mother, a grandmother, great-grandmother, a friend and above all, one of those giants in life that was such a pleasure to know and befriend. Her unconditional love and contributions to her family were enormous. She was a giant icon of loyalty, trust, love, humility and friendship — a disciple of the Lord as every day of her life she was a witness to the Ten Commandments. The Lord has placed his arms around her and she has won the battle defeating death through Jesus Christ.

Vera Taylor, our beloved mother, grandmother, and dearest friend to many, passed very peacefully on March 10th at the home of daughter, Grace Unruh, with all of her daughters by her bedside. In her youth she was Miss Coastal Carolina and a Watermelon Queen. At age 50 she learned to water ski on Lake Lure and at 95 she even rode a camel. She lived a very full life and enjoyed living independently in her apartment at Spring Arbor West until just her last two weeks when she moved to be with her family and was admitted to home care through Four Seasons Hospice.

She was born on July 8, 1915, one of five children of the late Lillian and Robert Chisolm. She grew up in Varnville, S.C., graduated from Coker College, and taught school in Bamberg, S.C. She met the love of her life, Clifton Bradley Taylor, when she was attending a summer school session at Wake Forest. Their love grew and they were married in Brad's senior year of dental school before moving to Hendersonville in 1940. They were married for over 68 years. Her outgoing personality, sense of humor, and love for helping others led her to be involved with many groups and civic organizations.

She was a founding member of the YMCA and a member of her First Baptist Church for over 70 years. Vera was one of the oldest members of the Hope Sunday School Class. An accomplished musician, she played both piano and organ while still in high school for her Varnville, S.C. church. She taught school and helped to open her husband's new dental office as they began their practice in 1940 above the old Economy Drug Store on Main Street. She was a founder of the Hendersonville Cotillion Club, a tireless worker for the Junior Welfare Club, and a leader of the Garden Club, the Book Club, and the Girl Scouts. She helped to organize the Medical/Dental Auxiliary of Hendersonville and volunteered at Interfaith Ministry and as a Pink Lady at the old Patten and later Pardee Hospitals.

Her family always came first and was her pride and joy. Values mattered to her: honesty, integrity, and love just to name a few. Those values combined to display in every part of her life, on every day that she lived, an infectious spirit of happiness and a positive outlook on life that God blessed her with. Books will not be written about her but her spirit will live on through the lives that she touched. You will know those persons when you meet them — they will share the quality of hope, a positive outlook, and will strive to bring joy to every moment.

She is preceded in death by sisters Lillian Logan and Lydia Campbell as well as brothers Lee and Robert Chisolm. At 97 years of age, she was the oldest remaining member of her entire family. She is survived by her four daughters, Mrs. Barbara Bond (George) of Hendersonville, Mrs. Grace Unruh (Darryl, deceased) of Asheville, Mrs. Martha Foster (Dan) of Reidsville, and Mrs. Ginny Parker (Jim) of Hendersonville as well as Merete Ahern (Frank) , a Hendersonville resident who was a foreign exchange student that became like a daughter to the family. Grandchildren include Beth Wright, Marjorie Heskett, Cam Parker, Cory Parker, Brad Foster, Kim Deal, Dana Maddux, Kim Kinsella, Darryl Unruh Jr., Jill Earwood, Crystal Pace, and Crystal Unruh as well as 20 great-grand children and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who made Vera's life so comfortable since her husband's departure six years ago, particularly the staff of Spring Arbor West, where she resided in her own apartment and Four Seasons Hospice whose staff was a tremendous asset to the family during Vera's final days.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013, at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville with the Rev. Wally Shamburger and the Rev. Robert Fain officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception at the Cedars immediately following the service with a private interment by the family. The family requests contributions in lieu of flowers to the Community Foundation of Hendersonville, P.O. Box 1108, Hendersonville, N.C. 28793 or Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, N.C., 28731.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thoshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.