Susan Carol Taylor Howell

Susan Carol Taylor Howell, 59, of Blacksburg, passed away quietly on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at home surrounded by her family. Born July 15, 1947 in the Bronx, New York to Louise Taylor and the late Fred Taylor, Jr., she is also survived by her husband of 40 years, John Howell; daughter and son-in-law, Heather Howell and Rodolfo Long; son, Ian Howell; daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Christena Howell, Shankara Pandey, and Samundra Holden Pandey; son and daughter-in-law, Remi and Amoreena Ranck Howell; brother, Fred Arthur Taylor; nephew, Chris Taylor and his wife Nancy Taylor; and niece, Lisa Taylor Rich and her husband Steve Rich. Susie and John moved in 1979 with their young family from Bloomington, Indiana to Blacksburg, where Susie's dedication to the musical education of children took many forms. She taught at the Montessori Children's House and Primary School, taught private recorder lessons to students of all ages and backgrounds, and for 12 years directed the Children's Choir and the Choristers of Christ Episcopal Church. She was a longtime member of the Blacksburg Master Chorale. She was a founding director and organizer of the Singing Children of Blacksburg, a festival that brought together children's choirs from a number of area churches. Her greatest joy was sharing her love of music with children. A service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Christ Episcopal Church at 120 Church Street in Blacksburg. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your church's children's choir program. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Inc.