My mom, Bernice Taylor, 83 of Sapulpa entered her eternal home Saturday January 2, 2021. Born April 25, 1937 in Witts Springs, Arkansas to Fred and Ruby (Turney) Compton. She met Dad (Carl) while waitressing at the Silver Castle in West Tulsa. She loved telling the story of coming to work one day and spying the new cook and boy did he look good! Ha! He must have thought she looked pretty good too because they were married within 3 months. Mom was very intelligent and was able to skip some grades and graduated from Vian High School at the age of 16, with big plans to go to college—that was until that fateful day of meeting the man of her dreams, the stealer of her heart and the love of her life. She was married at 16, although they may have “fibbed a little” on their marriage license. They were true partners in life, whether it was taking care of their 10 acres with a big garden and an assortment of animals throughout the years or sharing the love of camping and fishing. Sure, there were spats but they didn’t last for long. They took up for each other, supported each other and enjoyed being together.
For as long as I can remember, Mom worked at Community State Bank (which has had several name changes) on SW Boulevard in Tulsa. Whether she was a Teller or Vice President and Loan Officer, she was loved by coworkers as well as her loyal customers. She was genuine, laughed easily and cared deeply about other people. She retired March 2001. Mom loved her family and it was because of her that we were introduced to Christ. For years, although Dad wouldn’t go, she would take me and my younger sister to church at Carbondale Baptist in West Tulsa. She was faithful and that faithfullness paid off when Dad decided to start going and he gave his life to Christ also.
She was a skilled seamtress, making many of our clothes while growing up and sometimes without a pattern. Mom worked as hard physically as she did mentally. She worked alongside Dad in growing crops, canning those crops and the never ending mowing, all while cooking, keeping an immaculate house and working a fulltime job!
When the bittersweet time came to sell their property, they moved to town with a small yard. That’s when their camping adventures began. They loved traveling with their fishing buddies especially to their favorite spot, Toledo Bend.
She enjoyed family and friends and had the gift of making friends easily, even in the assisted living centers. In her early stages of Alzheimer’s, she would help the ones that couldn’t do as much as she. As the years passed, she was the one doing less and less but she could still give you that award winning smile. We would like to give a very special thank you to Grace Hospice, especially Steven and Millie who gave her exceptional care for close to 3 years.
Mom was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Ruby, her sister, Norma Joyce Rotert and her handsome husband, Carl J Taylor in 2010.
Survivors include daughters, Teresa Redding (Doug) of Sapulpa and Lisa Fusick (Carl) of Sand Springs; grandchildren, Ryan Redding (Amie) of Sapulpa, Kasey Redding of Sapulpa, Kara Redding (Hugh) of Melbourne, Australia and Blake Fusick of Sand Springs; great grandchildren, Owen Redding and Bennett Redding; Nephews, Daryl Swimmer (Shirley) and Terry Swimmer (Ava).
I couldn’t ask for a better mom, helper and friend. This has been a long hard road. Although difficult to watch, I am convinced that she is the toughest lady I know. Mom, we are both proud and privileged to be your daughters. Love you.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army or Wounded Warriors would be wonderful.
