Bonnie Sue Goddard Taylor, 81, of Carmi, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
Bonnie was born January 11, 1938, at her family home in Buncombe, Johnson County, Illinois, the second and last child of Bon Andrew Goddard and Helen Mae Hudgins. After graduating from Vienna High School in 1957, Bonnie studied accounting and business occupations at the Vocational Technical Institute at SIU in Carbondale. On March 23, 1957, Bonnie married another Johnson County native and VTI student, Carl Leon Taylor, from the Taylor Church neighborhood, who served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Two children were born from their union, Mark Alan and Carla Joan. The family bond was so strong that after the deaths of Bonnie’s father and Carl’s mother, Helen Goddard and James Ralph Taylor married and spent their last years in Vienna.
After working briefly in Benton, Illinois, Lampley Electric of Carmi hired Carl to be the new manager of their television parts department, relocating the family to Carmi in 1959. Bonnie worked for H&R Block for two years, then joined the staff of what became Kemper CPA Group. In 1985 she became office manager for Conley CPA Office, and spent almost thirty years with CPA Cindy Birk Conley.
Bonnie attended the Roads Church in Norris City, Illinois, and was a long time worker in the local jail ministry, Beacon of Hope. Born Methodist, Bonnie became a spirit filled Christian, always ready to share her love of the Lord with those around her. Bonnie was well known for her love of Jesus, hearts and doves, and most anything blue. Bonnie lost her husband Carl in February, 2017, and her daughter Carla Joan in December of that year.
Her son, Mark Alan Taylor and wife Vicky live in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, while Carla’s husband, Duane Ediger, lives in Nolensville, Tennessee. Her grandchildren are Mathew Alan Taylor (wife Pam Kehoe) of Farmington, Ohio, and Amanda Dawn Taylor Carnes (husband Mike Carnes) of Bluford, Illinois, and two step-grandchildren, Jason Lee Ediger (wife Ruchel) of Santa Rosa, California, and Brooke Mariah Boor (husband Zach Boor) of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. Great-grandchildren include Madison Abigail Taylor, Wyatt Lane Carnes, Jacob Dylan Taylor and three step-great-grandchildren, Scarlett Lee Ediger, Leonard Vaughn Boor and Colton Dominic Ediger. Bonnie is also survived by her brother, Joe Goddard (wife Shirley) of La Jolla, California, and brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Faye) Taylor of Vienna, Connie (Janice) Taylor of Vienna, Jimmy (June) Taylor of Mesa, Arizona, and one sister in law, Joyce (Jim Bob) Gray of Vienna.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. for Bonnie Taylor on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the Roads Church in Norris City. Friends may call at 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be at Taylor Cemetery near Vienna. Cook Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Those who wish to honor Bonnie may do so by donating to Beacon of Hope Jail Ministry, CBN, TBN, or the Roads Church.