Esther Marie Best Taylor

Esther Marie Best Taylor, 87, Poland, passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville with family at her side.

She was born April 12, 1934 to William Best and Inez Marie Trout.

Esther attended Reelsville High School.

She married Willie Gene Taylor on May 2, 1951. They were married a few days short of 65 years when he passed on April 23, 2014.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She retired from the Indiana Baptist Assembly in 2003, where she enjoyed providing meals and sharing fellowship with the kids and adults that visited the camp and those who worked alongside her. She served at the camp for several years in two stints beginning in 1974. .

Esther was a member of the Big Walnut Missionary Baptist Church and the Golden Circle Club. She enjoyed going out to eat, visiting friends, puzzle books and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; uncle Claude “Runt” Best; brothers Ed Trout, Squire Junior Fritz, Ralph Best and John Best; grandchildren Adam Taylor and Clorissa Taylor; and great-grandsons Jesse Sellers and John T. Sellers.

Survivors include her sons, Willie E. (Sue) Taylor of Morton and Ed (Connie) Taylor of Valrico, Fla.; daughter Connie Jo Aker of Poland; five grandchildren, Johninda (Sam) Sellers, Malachi (Eric) Vaughan, Nathan (Annie) Aker, Nicole (Seth) Halstead and Cameron (Vivian Bernau) Aker; great-granddaughters Sevyn Sellers, Nakyhia Vaughan, Malia Halstead, Jacie Vaughan and Madilyn Vaughan; and several nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Esther loved visiting with her dear friends and neighbors Bob and Carol Minnick and their family. She enjoyed anytime she could go out on an adventure.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 1 at Moore Funeral Home in Brazil with Dr. James Walter officiating and burial to follow at Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery near Reelsville. The family will accept friends for visitation on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Clorissa Taylor Scholarship Fund.