Josephine Taylor

Josephine Taylor Josephine (Jo) Ruby Taylor, 99, of Springfield, Oregon, passed peacefully from this life on Monday, March 11, 2019. She joined her husband, Elmer, in Heaven. Services will be held Friday, March 22, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Springfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 7305 Main Street in Springfield. Gravesite internment will follow immediately after in the veteran’s section of Springfield Memorial Gardens. A luncheon will be provided at the chapel after the services for friends and family who would like to stay and visit and honor Jo’s memory. Jo was born on December 9, 1919, to Adelia and Ole Knudson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She married Robert Schultz in 1942 in Minnesota, and their first son, Jon Schultz, was also born there. Jo and Robert followed her sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Jack, to California, where their daughter Betty, son Raymond, and son William (Bill) were born. In 1960, Jo and Robert divorced and Jo moved with her four children to Oregon. She married Elmer Taylor in 1970. Jo and Elmer had nearly 10 wonderful years together before he suddenly passed away in June of 1979. Jo worked for Alexander’s department store in Springfield, Oregon from 1960 to 1970. She was loved by her customers and co-workers alike; she always had a smile for them. Jo had a love of reading and also loved to dance. Jo was an excellent ballroom dancer and enjoyed dancing with her husband, Elmer, and then later with friends and family at various dance functions in the Springfield/Eugene area. She was able to live by herself in her own home with support from her daughter, Betty, and family, until she became ill with pneumonia this past October. In December, Jo was well enough to celebrate her 99th birthday with a family birthday party. She was so proud of herself! She spent her final months at The Rawlin at Riverbend. She had many friends and family visit her at the Rawlin, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Jo is survived by her son, Jon Schultz and daughter-in-law Rene’, daughter, Betty Smith, son William Schultz and daughter-in-law Mary, step-daughter, Erletha Taylor, and step-daughter and son-in-law Evalee and Phil Winkler. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Taylor, son, Raymond Schultz, grandsons, Brian Parker and Jim Schultz, and sister, Pearl Elwood. Jo was very proud of the fact that she lived long enough to have great-great-grandchildren. She would smile at us and say "I’m doing pretty great for 99!" A few days before she passed, she told us “I don’t think I will make it to 100 – and I’m ok with that. I just want to go home.” She got her wish a few days later. She was loved and will be missed by her family and friends. Because of her faith in Jesus Christ, Jo is probably dancing up a storm in heaven right now!