Sandra "Sandy" Lee Taylor

Sandy Taylor, 83, rural Newtown, passed away peacefully at home on December 15, 2024, following a period of failing health. She was born on July 4, 1941, in Williamsport to Lt. Col. Leolus “Ike” L. Wall and Crystal (Palin) Kimbrell. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend and confidant to many, and an enthusiastic lover of life.
She graduated from Richland Township High School with the Class of 1959. She loved all her classmates and frequently spoke with fondness about growing up in Newtown with her many friends. She was looking forward to serving as president of the Richland Alumni Association.
She married Richard M. Taylor of Warren County on July 23, 1961, at what is now the Newtown Community Church. On Father’s Day 1970, they and their three children moved to her family’s homestead just west of Newtown on State Road 55. It was where she spent most of her life.
She worked several jobs throughout Fountain County before she landed a career in the Purdue University Registrar’s Office in 1980. She enjoyed helping students cut through red tape, and she was always in awe of the constantly-changing campus. She retired in 2007.
Sandy was a lifetime member of the Newtown Community Church. She loved to sing in the choir, help organize church functions with CWF, and get involved with anything the youth did. She had several great stories about the Joybells youth choir in the 1970s.
She was member of the local Red Hat Society and looked forward to the third Wednesday of the month for lunch with her close friends at a restaurant, followed by shopping. She was a founding member of the Domesticated Debs Home Ec Club of Richland Township and had been a supporter of Fountain County 4-H.
She anxiously awaited the gardening season – particularly for the tomatoes – and adored any kind of flower, especially anything her son Jeff had grown and picked for her. She loved both cooking and eating, listening and dancing to any kind of music, watching fireworks, sitting around a bonfire, and going anywhere in a car. Simply put, she wanted to be on the go. She looked forward to the change in seasons. No matter the weather, you couldn’t stop her from getting out, especially if a restaurant was part of the plan.
She loved having a good time, and it didn’t take much to entertain her. She always rooted for Purdue and Fountain Central athletics, raved about the Indianapolis 500 (which she and Richard attended for over 50 years), and couldn’t wait for the county 4-H Fair, the State Fair, and the Covered Bridge Festival. She was completely interested in whatever anyone in her family was into regardless of what it was. She never wanted to miss a thing.
Sandy is survived by her children, Jeff Taylor of rural Newtown, Chris (Sally) Taylor of rural Newtown, and April Taylor of Attica; grandchildren, Taryn (Cory) Gay, Isaac Taylor, Henry Taylor, and Ozzy Taylor Jean; great-grandchildren, Zander and Gavin Gay; daughter-in-law, Stacey (Adams) Taylor; stepmother, Norma (Crawford) Wall of Charleston, S.C.; half-sisters, Daphne Casciano and Deborah Hyman; as well as many nieces and nephews on the Taylor side, whom she all loved dearly.
In addition to her parents, Sandy was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Richard M. Taylor, on October 4, 2017; stepfather, Howard Kimbrell; stepbrothers, John and Ronny Kimbrell; and her Aunt Vera Mae and Uncle Hardy Gookins, who raised her for much of her childhood and teenage years.
Visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Maus Funeral Home, 704 S. Council St., Attica, with the funeral service immediately following. Pastor Mike Parks of the Newtown Community Church and Pastor Sue Spurlin of Rob Roy will officiate. Her nephew, C.J. Taylor, and grandson, Isaac Taylor, will also speak. Burial will follow at Union Christian Cemetery, 1213 E. Aylesworth Road, just west of Newtown.
Contributions may be made to Maus Funeral Home, 704 S. Council St., Attica, IN 47918, in order to defray the cost of services.
You can honor her memory by trusting in God and Jesus Christ, learning to keep going no matter what comes your way, and refusing to care what other people think about you. Sandy truly, deeply loved life.
Online condolences and memories may be left at mausfuneralhome.com.