Doris Jean Taylor

Doris Jean Taylor, an inspiring teacher and friend to everyone, died May 23, 2023. Doris, 90, of Potterville was born January 25, 1933, in Lansing to Lawrence Romanek and Dorothy Marguerite (Hagarty) Romanek. Doris’ first husband, James Edward Darrow I, passed away after only three years of marriage. Later that month, their son James Darrow II was born. Doris met her second husband, Alton Taylor, when she asked him for help changing a flat tire at the gas station. He made mention that he was an apprentice carpenter and she asked if he would build some cabinets in her garage. The rest is history, and they welcomed a second son, Steve Taylor. Doris earned her master’s degree from Michigan State University and was an accomplished art teacher, earning the Michigan Art Association award on multiple occasions. She worked as a traveling art teacher in Eaton Rapids and Lansing covering 17 different schools. Doris was proud of traveling across the state and teaching art to an entire school in a single day. She truly enjoyed her students, as she could inspire many of the difficult students to become great art students. Doris inspired many students to become art teachers themselves. She often used stuffed animals as models to teach drawing. In her younger years during her leisure time, Doris enjoyed camping at Silver Lake near Traverse City with family and friends. She later enjoyed visiting her cottage at Lake Mitchell in Cadillac. She could never quite master water skiing, rather, she mastered drinking the lake water instead. Once at the cottage she was able to venture to one of the numerous casinos that were within driving distance, where she enjoyed playing the slot machines. Doris also enjoyed reading (especially the Outlander Series). During her time at Holt Senior Care & Rehab, Doris was known as the sunshine of the facility. She was also the luckiest winner there, earning her the title of Bingo Queen. Family meant the world to Doris; in recent years she loved her Sundays with her granddaughter Sam.
Doris is survived by her sons, James (Wanda) Darrow II, and Steve (Sharlene Hamilton) Taylor; grandchildren, Sam Darrow and James Darrow III; and brothers, Larry Romanek of Crystal Falls, Michigan and Robert “Robby” Romanek of Mesquite, Nevada. She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands, James Darrow and Alton Taylor; sister, Vivian Crowe; and brother, Ronald Romanek.
Friends are encouraged to support Doris’ family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home. Funeral services were Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Sycamore Creek Church in Potterville with Pastor Mark Aupperlee officiating. The funeral was webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Doris’ tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society or the Sycamore Creek Church. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.