Linda Kay Taylor

Linda Kay (McIlhaney) Taylor, 79, of Edmond, Oklahoma went to heaven on August 18, 2025. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, August 21 at 2:00pm, at First Baptist Church, Temple, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at the Temple Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 20 from 5-8:00pm at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home, 122 W. Texas St, Temple, Oklahoma.

Linda was born November 12, 1945 to Joe King McIlhaney and Pauline (Dudley) McIlhaney in Temple, Oklahoma. Growing up in Temple, she was a tom-boy that enjoyed playing outside with her brothers, sisters, and cousins. She especially loved riding her aunt’s horse. In school, she was a tenacious guard on the basketball team, cheerleader, and Homecoming attendant. As a youth, Linda was saved by Jesus Christ and baptized. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Temple.

Barely 17, she married Ernest Taylor on New Years Eve in 1962, a union that lasted over 62 years until her passing. Being so young when they married, the pair always said they “raised each other.” The couple settled in Duncan, Oklahoma and was blessed with two children. They dedicated their lives to supporting them.

Linda’s work career included a variety of roles as a glass inspector, seamstress, dental assistant, print shop operator, and security guard, but is most likely remembered for raising parakeets as a family business for years.

For fun, she enjoyed attending her kids’ activities, playing Rook, boating, water-skiing, and RV traveling, but she was happiest at family events with her mother, brothers and sisters and their spouses, the Taylor family, and other family and friends. She loved being “Nanny” to her grand-children and great grandkids and always made them feel special.

Survivors include her husband Ernest, son Brent Taylor and wife Carol, daughter Sherry Bernstein and husband David, grandchildren and spouses Zach Sipes (Sara), Kassidy Tucker (Blake), Lauren White (Paul), Garrett Taylor (Shannon), Hannah Bernstein, and Eli Bernstein, great-grandchildren Jameson, Audrey, Kodi, Berklie, and Tristan, sisters Carol Henderson, Mary Sorge, and Betty Powers, and brothers Ken McIlhaney (Jan) and Steve McIlhaney (Dana), sisters-in-law Deloris Seward and Carolyn Phillips (Larry), many cherished nieces and nephews, and a host of other beloved extended family and friends.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Pauline, her husband’s parents Luther and Evadean Taylor, sister-in-law Vicki McIlhaney, as well as brothers-in-law Tommy Henderson, Karl Sorge, Andy Powers, and Alex Seward.

Linda will be remembered for her beautiful blonde hair, fun spirit, tender heart, “Scrabble” party mix, and love of Jesus and her family.