Betty McLain Taylor

Betty McLain Taylor passed away peacefully in Temecula, California on May 26, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on St. Patrick's Day in 1933, she was a true Irish lass who spent her last birthday sitting outside watching a beautiful sunset, drinking her favorite Pinot Noir, and listening to a live bagpipe concert.

Born in Arkansas, she was the only child of Mandy Flora Davis and Roy Calvin McLain. After enduring a tough childhood, her high school experience in Ponca City, Oklahoma finally gave her some lasting good memories. She was forever grateful for the support of the friends and families that took her in and enabled her to experience a wonderful senior year.

Soon after high school she met the love of her life, Ira Al Taylor, and for close to 68 years they lived together in Houston, Texas, both developing successful careers in the oil and gas industry. Betty was employed at Tenneco for 30+ years, working her way up to secretary for the Sr. VP. She loved the company, her bosses, and especially all her fellow secretaries who became lifelong girlfriends.

Betty and Al made a great team as they created a beautiful home of warmth and welcome to all their many friends. They enjoyed lots of the same things - season tickets to the Astros, Rockets, and Oilers, cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners football team, hosting dinner parties, fun evenings out with friends and neighbors, and travel.

Betty and Al were very loving parents to their only child, Nancy Alyson -attending her every sporting event and activity, and even fully supporting without comment her wild idea of majoring in theatre at the University of Texas.

One of the biggest blessings of their lives was the marriage of Nancy to son-in-law Bruce Batten and the resulting birth of their only grandchild, Mackenzie Marie Batten. They were doting grandparents who adored their sweet granddaughter.

Betty was known for her beauty and class, and as a wonderful loyal friend. Always ready with a laugh, Betty knew how to have a good time and she could have fun doing just about anything. Her favorite games were Bridge and golf, but was a dynamite Spades and Hearts player as well. Reading books, particularly mysteries and thrillers, was a major hobby right up until her passing.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her son-in-law. She is survived by her daughter, granddaughter, sister-in-law Vesta Taylor de Lopez and family in Guadalajara, and nephews and nieces Ward Taylor (Yana) in Houston and Michael Taylor (Jamie) in Oklahoma City, Tom Clapham in San Antonio, Toni Sanders in San Antonio, and many other extended family members and friends. She will be dearly missed!

A celebration of Betty's life will be held in the chapel at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City, Oklahoma on Saturday, June 7 at 2PM, with Pastor Stephen Johnson of the First Christian Church of Ponca City presiding.