Bettie Ruth Taylor

Bettie Ruth Taylor, 76, of Commerce, passed away Friday evening, December 13, 2019 in Greenville.

Bettie Ruth Fayle, the daughter of Ester Denham Fayle and Raymond Fayle, was born in Baytown, Tx to a loving family in 1943. She had wonderful memories of growing up there, playing in the ocean and eating fresh seafood, as well as great memories of her older sisters, Lynda and Nancy, who were also her friends and teachers, as well as her big brother Raymond Jr. who she always looked at with admiration. The three sisters are known as The Fayle Girls, and bring much artistic, intelligent and fierce DNA to our family.

Bettie graduated from Poly Technical High School, in 1961, where she met her first husband, Willard Dee Taylor, and they had two kids, Julie Devin and Dee Bradley. She raised her children to love life and acknowledge the good in everyone; to show kindness in all situations, to give praise at all times, and to enjoy life to the fullest. Both of her children enjoy full, happy lives as artists, inspired and encouraged by their mother.

In the 1970s, Bettie was the manager of the Llano, Texas Chamber of Commerce. One of the first women managers of a Chamber of Commerce in Tx, Bettie enjoyed a career of public service, including involvement at the state level. In the 1980s, she went on to manager two more Chambers in Taylor Tx. and Plano, TX.

When Bettie was six years old, she recorded a Christmas single, her first taste of show biz! She was a professional singer for more than 4 decades, and would often sit in with jazz bands in Dallas throughout the 70s and 80s. During this time, she also had a brief stint as a chorus member on Broadway in New York in one of the original casts of Hair.

In addition to singing, Bettie studied dance, mostly jazz and tap, and was an accomplished tap dancer, attending national workshops and seminars, and often dancing with her friends Louis DePron and Bonnie Franklin. She opened her first dance studio in Llano Tx in 1973, and taught, inspired and provided performance opportunities for many young people. Her early instruction and encouragement were crucial building blocks for many artists and creative kids she helped inspire during that time throughout the hill country. In the 1980s, Bettie choreographed musical theatre, including Plano East Sr High’s very famous production of Godspell, and in 1989, she played Miss Mona in East Texas State University’s Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a role she is still recognized for.

When she met Bobby Taylor in 1987, they both knew they would share their lives together; they recognized one another as soul mates. It was then that Bettie's family grew with the addition of her step sons, Robert Taylor and Bobby Taylor Jr. and their wives & children, especially Christina & Sabrina, her beloved granddaughters. More than 30 years later, the life that Bettie and Bobby created is one rich with family, friends, love and laughter.

She is survived by her husband Bobby, her daughter Julie Taylor of AR., her son Brad Taylor of Dallas, her two grandchildren; Christina Driscoll and Sabrina Mantel and her three great-grandchildren; Embry Driscoll, Zoe Driscoll and Tristan Mantel.

Those that preceded her in death are her parents Raymond & Ester Fayle.

The family will host a memorial celebration on Saturday, December 28, 2019, from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. in the Jones-Walker & Son Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a dedicated donation in memory of Bettie Ruth Taylor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, StJude.org.

A butterfly is daintier

than a ballerina,

like a leaf in the wind

so delicate and fragile

but so free, so free

this butterfly will always be.