Mary Jo Taylor

Graveside services for Mary Jo Taylor, 87, West Plains, will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery on U.S. 63 north of West Plains, Missouri, with Matt Dusenberry officiating under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains.

Mrs. Taylor died at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, August 31, 2025, at her home in West Plains in the presence of her family. She was born November 5, 1937, near Myrtle, Missouri, to David and Jewel Looney Brewer.

The family moved to Thayer, Missouri, where Mrs. Taylor attended Thayer Schools. She was a proud Bobcat and graduated with the Class of 1955.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with a major in business and minor in mathematics, from Southwest Missouri State College, now Missouri State University, in May 1958. While at the college, she served as secretary of Kappa Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society and was a member of Pi Omega Pi business honor society.  Mrs. Taylor earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1962.  She worked more than 30 years in public education, serving as either a full-time teacher or substitute teacher. Schools where she taught include St. Clair School District, Oregon-Howell R-3 School District in Koshkonong, and the West Plains R-7 School District and surrounding rural schools.

She married Jimmy Joe Taylor on June 27, 1964, at Thayer, Missouri. The couple enjoyed traveling in their retirement and visited several places of interest throughout the country. They also would take spontaneous day trips exploring the Ozarks. She also enjoyed reading and embroidery.

Mrs. Taylor was a Christian with her initial membership in the First Baptist Church in Thayer, Missouri. She later attended services at the First Baptist Church and First Church of God, both in West Plains, Missouri, before health issues made attendance impossible.

Survivors include two daughters, Vickie Driskell and husband Kevin, West Plains, Missouri, and Stacie Carrico and husband, Jason, Harker Heights, Texas; granddaughters Taylor Carrico, Harker Heights, Texas, Gina Davis and husband Chris, Koshkonong, Missouri, and Amanda Collins and husband Clayton, West Plains, Missouri; three great-granddaughters, Emma and Eva Collins, and Gracie Davis; a brother, John Wayne Brewer, Thayer, Missouri; one nephew, Joshua Brewer, Thayer, Missouri; and many other cousins, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, the Missouri State University-West Plains Fund for Excellence or charity of choice and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775.