Kay Sluder Taylor

    ALEXANDER – Kay Lee Sluder Taylor, 83, of Alexander, NC, died in her home on Thursday, December 7, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones.

    She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Clyde James “Jay” Taylor; parents, Charles Erza Sluder, Jr. and Lova Jeanette Sluder; and sisters, Jeanette Bosserman and infant Mary Sluder.

    Kay is survived by her daughters, Tonya Taylor Waites (Danny) and Tammy Taylor Bowling; sister, Judy Morris; grandchildren, Taylor DeMaar (Erin), Morgan DeMaar, Julian Bowling and Emma Bowling; great-grandchildren, Chandler DeMaar, Jay DeMaar and Emmett DeMaar; numerous nieces and nephews. She was blessed to have had a large family who loved her and were part of her life.  She was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Alexander, NC.

    Kay graduated from Erwin High School in Asheville, NC, and Memorial Mission Hospital Nursing School. She also earned her Nurse Practitioner's degree from Emory University. She was an operating room nurse, a public health nurse in Sandy Mush, started the Health Occupations program in Buncombe County Schools in the 1970's, and worked many years in the Buncombe County Health Department in women's health.  She had a lifelong love of music and singing Southern gospel songs. She performed in church choirs, had been a youth choir director, and performed with both the Jack Henderson Singers, and the Alexander Trio, of Alexander, NC.  She loved life and lived every day fully.

   The family will receive friends on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave. in Weaverville. Mrs. Taylor’s funeral service will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday December 16, 2023 in the Chapel of the funeral home. Pastor Howard Self will officiate. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory, Asheville.

    For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Taylor’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.