Elinor Taylor

Elinor Taylor, 86, Ionia, died November 24, 2025, at her home following a brief battle with cancer. As per her wishes, there will not be a funeral service. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Hideaway in Ionia on Sunday the 14th of December from 2-6 pm.
Elinor was born August 30, 1939, in Howard County, the daughter of Floyd and Eva (Nicoll) Foote. She grew up in rural Lime Springs, Iowa with her parents and siblings, Roger, Connie and David.
On August 5, 1955, she married Rodney Taylor in Sioux Falls, S.D. The couple lived in numerous towns before settling in Ionia in 1968. Rodney and Elinor had five children, Shirley, Rick, Gary, Randy and Mike. Elinor enjoyed meeting the families and kids during her 36 years of driving school bus for the New Hampton School District. She was a hard worker and worked alongside Rodney when he started his asphalt plant and grave digging businesses. After Rodney died, Elinor was not content to sit at home. She started working part-time at the Hideaway in Ionia. She enjoyed the job, her bosses, visiting with customers and keeping up with local news.
When she finally retired, she created a new routine. Elinor could be found at the Hideaway, the first Wednesday of the month for Euchre, at the Ionia library the second Sunday of the month, in Charles City on Tuesday evenings and in New Hampton on Thursday evenings for BINGO. An occasional trip to a casino rounded out her new routine.
Elinor is survived by her children: Shirley (Don) Holm of Charles City, Rick (Renda) Taylor, Gary (Barb Richter) Taylor, Randy (Sandy) Taylor, and Mike (Lisa) Taylor, all of Ionia. 11 grandchildren, Doug (Jessie) Holm of Charles City, Sarah (Jared) Pospisil of LaPorte City, Travis (Dawn) Taylor of Fredericksburg, Samantha Robbins of Charles City, Jessica (John) Larson of Rockford, Lisa Richter of Zionsville, IN, Jill (Jamie) DeSloover of Fort Atkinson, Alicia (Curtis) Rich of Des Moines, Megan Apel of Charles City, Clayton (Sarah Ehlers) Taylor of Nicholasville KY, Dana (Sheree) Meihost of Ionia, Alex (Katie) Taylor of Polk City, 26 great-grandchildren, her sister Connie (Roger) Ihrke of Elgin MN, brother David (Vickie) Foote of Fate TX, sisters in-law Donna Foote of Lime Springs and Eleanor Wubben of Clear Lake, brothers in-law Pat Taylor of Cresco and Tom (Doris) Taylor of Versailles KY, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was proceeded in death by her husband Rodney, parents Floyd and Eva Foote, brother Roger Foote, in-laws Ray and Evaline Fulcher, sisters in-law Connie Taylor and Betty Shea, brothers in-law Ken Shea and Jerry Wubben.