Gladys Taylor

Gladys Taylor, age 78, passed away September 3, 2025. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Monday, September 8, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jefferson, Iowa. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Grand Junction, Iowa.

The family will visit with friends from 4:00 – 6:00pm Sunday at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.

Gladys Virgina Taylor was born on December 10, 1946 in Cabool, Missouri to Willard Allen and Grace Mae (Browne) Roberts. She graduated from Scranton High School in Scranton, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Joseph Craig Dolan Sr. on October 29, 1966 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry, Iowa. After his passing, she then was united in marriage to Joseph Edward Taylor on November 12, 1977 at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Iowa. Gladys spent early years as a beautician and later worked at the Greene County Medical Center for nearly 30 years. After retiring, she returned to work at Congregate Meals.

Gladys, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend is leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter and strength. Known to many simply as "Granny", she wore the title with pride, as the greatest joy was found in her grandkids.

Gladys cherished the simple things in life. She could often be found watching her grandkids in all their activities, tending to her garden with her husband, Joe, and sister-in-law, Sue, or sitting on her porch sharing stories with her friends and family. She loved cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and never passed up a chance to hunt for treasures at yard sales with her sister, Fereleen.

Gladys seemed to know everyone in the community and her ability to connect with people made her a friend to all. She delighted in sharing stories of early days in Cabool, Missouri and the journey that brought her and her family to Scranton, Iowa where she built a lifetime of childhood memories. After marriage with Joe they built their life on a farm near Rippey, Iowa. After Sunday service, a home cooked meal was waiting for them with the main course usually consisting of chicken.

In death she rejoins her parents, Willard and Grace, and her siblings: Alma Thede, Beatrice Boyd, Fereleen Acton, David Roberts, and Ollie Rathje; first husband, Joseph Dolan Sr.; daughter, Susan Delp; and granddaughter, Jennifer Fisher.

Left to cherish Gladys' memory are husband, Joseph Taylor of Jefferson, IA; children: Joseph Dolan Jr. of Grand Junction, IA; Andrew Taylor (Jennifer) of Gowrie, IA; and Allen Taylor (Emily) of Yale, IA; grandchildren: Laura Delp, Ivan Hudson-Taylor (Kamy), Izaiah Taylor, Ileigh Taylor, Logan Taylor, Josiah Taylor, Noah Taylor, Autumn Taylor, Justin Fisher, Jeff Fisher, and Jake Fisher; great grandchildren: Vienna Ochoa, Wrenleigh Hudson, Eleanor Hudson, Tayt Stracke, Tessa Fisher, Ian Fisher, Kylie Fisher, Oliva Fisher, Willow Fisher, and Micheal Fisher; siblings: Delmar (Carol) Roberts of Marshalltown, IA; Doyle Roberts of Scranton, IA; and Earl (Pat) Roberts of Scranton, IA; other relatives and friends.

We would like to leave you with a poem found in Gladys' journal.

Until you are well, be patient and wait,

For patience is such a wonderful trait.

Most of the battles in life are won

by looking beyond the clouds to the sun,

and having the patience to wait for the day

when the sun comes out and the clouds float away.

-- by Helen Steiner Rice