Rita M. Taylor, 81, of Madisonville, KY, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7:05 p.m. at the Eddie Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY.

She was born on January 4, 1930 in Elmira, NY to the late Clarence J. and Mary Q. Townley.

She enlisted into the United States Navy. She was a 3rd Class Yeoman in Company 27, 31st Battalion-3rd Regiment, where she received the National Defense Ribbon. She was employed as a stenographer for the Department of the Treasury. She also met the love of her life, James Taylor, Jr. She was a housewife and of the Catholic faith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband James on November 8, 1988. Also, her brothers, John J. Townley, James Q. Townley and Frances Q. Townley.

She is survived by her two sons, Michael J. Taylor of Mesa, AZ and Christopher J.(Nancy) Taylor of Phoenix, AZ; a daughter, Rosemary (John) Holt of Madisonville; a sister, Sister Marion Jude of Latham, NY; five grandchildren, Andrea Cox of Madisonville, Brittany Rivera, Amanda Taylor, Emily Taylor and Ryan Taylor all of Phoenix; two step-grandchildren, Kody Holt and Shelby Holt both of Madisonville; five great-grandchildren, Anthony Rivera, Luis Rivera and Layla Rivera all of Phoenix; and Jordan Cox and Abigail Cox both of Madisonville.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Church in Earlington, KY with the Father Bruce Fogle officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Madisonville. Military rites will be conducted graveside by the United States Navy.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m on Sunday, December 11, 2011 with a Rosary service being held at 4 p.m. in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Right to Life campaign. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Her most desired wish was for an end to abortion.