Melba Rose Taylor

To join the livestream of Melba's service, please select the link below. The service broadcast will commence at 12:55 P.M. Saturday, November 29, 2025 and will be archived for 90 days following the service for later viewing. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc2NDE5MzQyMjM5MDUwNCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== Melba Rose Taylor, age 89 years, a resident of Vienna, Illinois, passed away Wednesday morning, November 26, 2025, at 5:30 A.M. at the Anchor of the Voyage Senior Living in Marion, Illinois. Melba was born June 28, 1936 in Vienna, Illinois. She was the daughter of Moody C., and Mary (Baker) Wallace. On July 12, 1954, Melba was united in marriage to Roy L. Taylor at the First Baptist Church in Vienna. He preceded her in death on February 26, 2009. Melba is survived by: her daughters – Valerie Ervin of Marion, Illinois and Michele (Duane) McGinnis of Grantsburg, Illinois; 3 grandchildren – Melissa (Ryan) Gill of Raleigh, Illinois, Joshua Ervin of Marion, Illinois, and Leslie (Ryan) Peternell of Tinley Park, Illinois; 4 great grandchildren – Tyler, Korbyn, Peyton, and Milo; a sister – Betty Ehrstein of Valparaiso, Indiana; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Melba was preceded in death by: a son – Jeffrey A. Taylor; a son-in-law – Ronald L. Ervin; 3 sisters – Mary Cox, Violet Mathis, and Edna Phillips; and 2 brothers – Bill Wallace and Jim Wallace. Melba was a member of the Vienna High School graduating class of 1954. In her youth, Melba worked at the Good Luck Glove Factory in Vienna. She was also employed at the Discount Variety Store as well as the Vienna Drug Store. Melba had served as a cook at the former Veach Truck Stop at West Vienna. Melba is, perhaps, best remembered for providing babysitting and child care in her home. Through the years, Melba nurtured and cared for over 70 children. Her love of children extended to her serving as a den mother for the local Boy Scouts of America Troop. In her spare time, Melba enjoyed many types of hand crafts, including crochet, embroidery, and knitting. She is fondly remembered for her amazing green thumb and ability to cultivate many types of flowers, shrubs and bushes. Often from mere cuttings, she was able to grow beautiful and healthy flowers. She had a particular knack for raising azaleas and gloxinias. Melba and Roy were faithful members of First Baptist Church in Vienna, where they had also served as the church custodians and volunteered in the church’s food pantry ministry. A Celebration of the Life of Melba Taylor will be conducted Saturday afternoon, November 29, 2025, at 1 P.M. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Rodney Gholson will officiate. Interment will be Gilead Cemetery, near Simpson, Illinois. Visitation will be held Saturday afternoon, November 29, 2025, from 12 Noon until the service hour at 1 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2200 Cabot Drive, Suite 460, Lisle, Illinois 60532 or to the First Baptist Church (Food Pantry Ministry), P.O. Box 727, Vienna, Illinois 62995.

Melba Rose Taylor

June 28, 1936 - November 26, 2025