Dates
Alma Faye Ballard Taylor, age 94, of San Angelo, TX passed away on Friday, April 18 2014. She was born in Anson, TX on April 9, 1920 to parents E.D. and Martha (Dillingham) Ballard. Alma's parents, a pioneer family who came to Texas by covered wagon, were long-time residents of Brownfield, TX.
Alma attended Texas Tech University but left to join the Civil Service in White Sands, New Mexico to support the war effort and her four brothers who were fighting in it. She met Lt. E. Crawford Taylor there who took one look at beautiful Alma and decided right then he was going to marry her. After they married in November of 1944, they moved to Brownfield, TX where Crawford managed the local radio station and the Brownfield Country Club. Their only child, Linda Faye Taylor, was born on March 28, 1946.
When Alma moved to White Sands from Lubbock, she left part of heart at Texas Tech and soon she and Crawford were returning to the college for a long tradition of ball games and tailgating. Alma's special sausage balls were a staple on the tailgate menu as was her sweet personality and great sense of humor. Their many friends, mostly the husbands, called her "Miss America" which was reflective of her beauty inside and out.
Alma and Crawford moved to Lubbock in 1966 when he accepted a position as manager of Hillcrest Country Club. Alma went back to work as a bookkeeper/accountant so their daughter Linda could attend Texas Tech without any financial concerns. Linda graduated from the university in 1969.
Crawford passed away in 1997 and in 2006 Alma moved to San Angelo to live with Linda. Being avid Red Raider fans, mother and daughter watched the televised games from the living room and tailgated on the coffee table. Occasionally, Alma would have to turn her "back" to the set when things weren't going the Raider's way.
Besides the Texas Tech Red Raiders (and her daughter Linda, of course), Alma's great loves were her dogs and granddogs. Preceded in death by T-Rex Pfluger-Taylor, her surviving best friends Tinker and Jenkins have been her constant and devoted companions.
The family is deeply grateful for the diligent and loving care given by Maracella Franco, Martha Carrillo, and Stephanie Valderaz.
Alma is survived by her daughter Linda Taylor-Taylor and her sister-in-law Mrs. Eddie (Sue) Ballard. She is predeceased by her husband Crawford, her six siblings, and her son-in-law Chip whom she loved almost as much as Linda did.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Alma's favorite charity, The Bearded Collie Club of America Charitable Trust and their canine cancer program at the following address: BCCA Charitable Trust 35859 Elkridge Run Elizabeth, CO 80107 (An IRS 501 © 3 Charity)