Patricia R. Taylor

Patricia (“Pat”) Ruth (Craver) Taylor left her beloved family and farm on January 26, 2026, just as dawn was breaking on the snowiest day in decades. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Craig B. Taylor, with whom she shared love and the challenges and joys of raising two children and many sheep, birds, and cherished pets in Washington State and Illinois. Together they enjoyed the outdoors, a good movie or TV series, a love of books and book sales, talking about world events, and many other things. She is also survived by her daughter, Sarah (Jeffrey Strand) Taylor, and her son, Joshua A. Taylor, who agree that she was the best mother and taught them to cherish learning, to care for our planet, and to treat others with kindness. She let them have an inordinate number of pets, supported their many interests, and encouraged them to be themselves. She also gave them the opportunity to work on the farm, and in recent years, Sarah’s husband, Jeff, showed up to help mend fences and shear sheep. Her son delighted her with his acting stints, poetry, and his gift for being a teacher, and she was proud of her daughter’s work as a lawyer. She is also survived by her brother, John Harry (Karen) Craver, of Texas, nieces and many beloved cousins and extended family.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Bonnie (Brown) Craver, her cousin and friend, Laura Sue (Melvin) Wilson, her cousin John Kenneth Craver, and several friends and beloved pets.

Pat was born on August 31, 1946, in Murphysboro and grew up in Katy, Texas. As a child, she loved animals, science, beachcombing at Galveston, and collecting rocks and seashells. She had an amazing green thumb, a trait she shared with her mother (not her daughter). She traveled to Murphysboro as a girl to visit her grandparents, John Franklin and Esther Jane Craver, and her cousins, Mary Ellen (Patrick) Brown of Murphysboro, Carole (John) Connet of Fairfield, Iowa, Iris (Steve) Craver of Lawrence, Kansas, John Kenneth Craver, Laura Sue Wilson, Joe (Lisa) Melvin of Murphysboro, and Joey Helleny, Jane (Craig) Herman, and Robert (Cathy) Helleny, all of Herrin, Illinois, all of whom hold dear memories of her as that scrawny cousin with the Texas drawl.  

Pat attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and met her husband, Craig. They were married on November 9, 1968, in Austin, then moved to Seattle, where their children were born and where Pat worked for the post office and in the University of Washington’s Burke Museum Zoology Department. She and Craig hiked and taught mountaineering first aid for many years. The family moved to Fall City, Washington, where Pat raised heritage Lincoln Long wool sheep as Cold Comfort Farm Lincolns, was involved in many sheep and fleece groups, won awards at the county and State fairs, and helped others learn about raising sheep. She enrolled her children in 4-H and was an active 4-H parent. In 1992, the family moved the farm to Murphysboro, where Pat continued to raise sheep and poultry until shortly before her death. In 1993, she was a Researcher and Curator for the Southern Illinois University Museum and created an exhibit that explored medical practices in the 1800’s called “I Ain’t Sick…I Just Got the Ague.” She was very proud of her work on the exhibit, which was well-received and ran for over a year.

Pat was smart, creative, and artistic. She loved a good story and read books on topics ranging from Roman history to science fiction, to mysteries, to children’s books. She read almost every page of the New York Times and clipped articles to share with others. She shared a love of reading with Craig and her children. She was concerned about the welfare of others and had a righteous belief in social justice. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends and by those she touched throughout her life. May she rest in peace. All of us who loved her know that she is. A Celebration of Life honoring Pat’s life will be announced at a later date. The family appreciates your prayers, love, and continued support during this time of bereavement. The family wishes to thank the staff at Fairview Rehab and Healthcare Center in DuQuoin, IL for their kindness in caring for Pat and supporting her family.