of Little Rock, AR

November 4, 1935 - January 26, 2019

Janice Annette Willis Taylor died January 26, 2019 in Little Rock, AR at the age of 83. She was born November 4, 1935, at Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Cora Pauline Athens Willis and Walter Wade Willis, Jr. She was preceded in death by both parents.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Fred James Taylor of Little Rock, Arkansas. They were married in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on August 25, 1956. She is also survived by two sons: Gregory Lyle Taylor and wife, Danielle O'Neill Taylor of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Bradley Clark Taylor of Hot Springs, Arkansas. She has three grandchildren, Andrew Harrison Taylor, Jackson Thomas Taylor (Greg's) and Lindsey Kay Taylor (daughter of Brad and Marsha) of Little Rock, Arkansas. Other survivors include her two sisters of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Phyllis Ann Willis and Willa Jeane Curnutt and her husband, Ronald Clark Curnutt. She has four nieces and two nephews: Dana Curnutt Willis of Copan, Oklahoma; Mindy Curnutt Mansfield of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Kayla Taylor of Dallas, Texas; Craig Taylor of Muldrow, Oklahoma; Leland Taylor of Midwest City, Oklahoma; and David Mark Mohney.

Janice started school in Eudora, Kansas. After her family returned to Oklahoma, she attended Tanglewood, Limestone, and Fisher Schools. When she was in the sixth grade her family moved to Sand Springs, Oklahoma, where she attended the Sand Springs Schools and graduated from Sand Springs High School (now Charles Page High School) in the class of 1953. She was active in drama and speech. She then attended Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Speech/Language Pathology in 1957. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. In 1966 she received a Master of Education degree from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Other universities she attended were Anderson College, Anderson, Indiana, the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Oklahoma, the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, Colorado, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas.

Janice had a long career in education. For three years she was the speech/language pathologist for the Sand Springs, Oklahoma, public schools. She then taught English, American History, and produced class plays at the Eaton, Colorado public schools while her husband worked on his doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. Upon his graduation, they returned to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and she taught English at Oaks High School in Oaks, Oklahoma. In 1977, her husband, Fred became Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she spent eighteen years as the speech/language pathologist at the Wilmar Schools, the Monticello Schools, the Fountain Hill Schools, and the Drew Central Schools.

Wherever she lived, Janice was active in community affairs. In Oklahoma she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. In Fayetteville, Arkansas, where her husband worked at the University of Arkansas, she was president of the Newcomers Club and the Root School PTA. She was also a member of the Junior Civic League. She also served as president of the University Women's Club. She was proud to be the founding president of the North Arkansas Symphony Guild. In Monticello, Arkansas, she was a long-time board member of the Southeast Arkansas Concert of the Arts Association. She was also a member of the IJAM Women's Club and the Monticello Junior Auxiliary. She was a Cub Scout den leader. After retiring to Little Rock in 2004, Janice became a founding volunteer at the Clinton Presidential Center. She was proud of and thankful for this unique experience. State wide, Janice served five four-year terms on the Arkansas Arts and Humanities Council. She was appointed by Governors Clinton, Tucker, and Beebe.

From 1977-2004 her husband, Fred served at the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she helped him host students, alumni, and dignitaries from across the state, the nation, and the world. She attended all campus activities. She loved basketball. She promoted campus beautification and the arts. For her support of the arts, she was recognized with the creation of the Janice A. Taylor Music Award given annually to an outstanding music student. She was devoted to her husband, her sons, the university and her profession.
Nationally she served on the Spouses Committee of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). For several years, she and Chancellor Taylor chaired the AASU workshops for new presidents and spouses. One year, Janice was chosen as AASCU Spouse of the Year.

Along with Chancellor Taylor, Janice was privileged to be a member of two AASCU delegations to both Nationalist China and the Republic of China. She was thankful to have had the opportunities to travel to over twenty countries in her life time including a very special 50th anniversary African safari.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fred and Janice Taylor Endowed Scholarship in Debate and Forensics at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, 346 University Court, Monticello, AR 71655, Mount Holly Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 250118, Little Rock, AR 72225, or the Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227

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