I, Catherine Dooley Taylor, took flight on Monday (July 23, 2012) at my home surrounded by my family.

My loving parents, the Rev. James and Kitty Dooley, introduced me to the world on Feb. 17, 1932, in Barrackville.

I accepted Christ as my personal Savior at the age of 12 and was baptized by the late Pastor Nelson Gray at the Morning Star Baptist Church. As a strong believer in the Lord, I have tried to be his servant by visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, encouraging and helping others as much as I can. I have remained a member of Morning Star and have administered my most faithful and valuable services as the chairman of the Trustee Board, president of the Missionary Society, a Sunday school teacher, and a Young Adult Choir member. I also served as the vice-president of the Tygart Valley Baptist Women’s Convention and a member of the Church Women United of Marion County.

I am grateful that I was chosen to receive many awards throughout the community and most recently, the West Virginia Civil Rights Humanitarian Award for my actions. I enjoyed being a part of the Faithful Thirteen Club and as I always quote: “Let me live in my house by the side of the road where the race of Men go by; they are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, wise, foolish — so am I. Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat or hurl the cynic’s ban? Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to Man.”

Dunbar High School and Owens-Illinois were special to me. Many lasting friendships were developed. Those places made me a stronger and more responsible person.

I was married to the late Arthur J. Taylor and to this union was born three sons, Pastor Paul (Lorretta) Taylor, Fred (Terrece) Taylor and Daniel (Diane) Taylor; and one daughter, Mary (McArthur) Tate. These children were solely “the wind beneath my wings” because they let me fly so high. Then came Carol, James and Pam into my household, which made me soar even higher like an eagle.

To my 16 grandchildren, Paul, Christine, Gregory, Keisha, Ashley, I’Lysee, Thomas, Daniel, David, Douglas, DeQuincy, Amber, Stephanie, Eric, Stacy and Catherine, don’t cry a tear because I was the one with all the glory while you were the ones with the strength. Did you know you were my heroes? You filled my life with so much love and happiness and my nine great-great grandchildren were a step behind pulling the string to my heart.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed sometimes, but I’ve got it all here in my heart. My nieces and nephews loved and respected me highly. I want Freda, Debbie, Jackie, Arlene, Kitty, Florence, Eugene, George, Shirley, Lynn and Ronald Michael to know that I would have been nothing without you.

Did I ever tell you that Loretta’s family and my family became as one? Together we became the wind beneath one another’s wings.

Everyone in the world should be blessed to have two loving sisters, Rosa Dooley Greer and Betty (Ronald) Dooley Howard, as I had. You have been everything I wished sisters could be.

I met many wonderful people in my life, but it was a few who superseded the word friend: Ida Starks, Viola Akers, Bettie Sam, Dora Reese, Pastor Wesley and Cynthia Dobbs, Bonnie Moats, Deacon Robert and Elizabeth Blair, Harold Barner, Charlotte Sumlin, Cindy Black, Charles Nallen, Bennie Horton, Stella Darocha, Pastor Jeremiah Jasper, and my self appointed son, Pastor Ted and Diane Buckner. My lifetime neighbors, Asa and Delores Davison (who helped me with my children) were God sent to me and will always be in my heart along with their sons, Jerry, Keith and Greg.

My family members who preceded me in getting their wings were my siblings, Lorraine Dooley Brooks, Mary Dooley Slaughter, Grace Dooley Davis, Juanita Dooley Bland, James, George and Fred Dooley; several nieces and nephews.

I have chose Evergreen Cemetery as my resting place to be near my husband and parents.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank God for you. “The winds beneath my wings.”

Visitation will be Thursday at the Morning Star Baptist Church, 100 McKinney St., from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the church on Friday at 11 a.m., the Rev. Wesley Q. Dobbs officiating assisted by the Rev. Kevin Hall. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Morning Star Baptist Church building fund, the Hospice Care Center on Country Club Road or the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank Holly and the entire staff at the Hospice Center who were a part of our Mother’s care. May God bless you all!

Arrangements have been entrusted to the JG Lampkin Funeral Home.