Genevieve Taylor
March 5, 1920 ~ May 14, 2023
Genevieve (Sparwasser) Taylor, 103, passed peacefully from this life on May 14, 2023, surrounded by family at home. Genevieve was born in 1920 on a small farm on the high plains of Kansas, the fifth child of Herman Jacob Sparwasser and Nellie (March) Sparwasser. She spent most of her childhood in Glasco, Kan., coming of age through The Great Depression and the Dustbowl, and there she grew to love the Kansas prairie. Genevieve spent her days reading, writing poetry, taking two-mile treks into the countryside with her wooden wagon and fox terrier named Snookie. In high school, Genevieve studied to be a teacher, and taught in the rural schools, eventually attending business college and becoming a comptometer operator. In 1941, Genevieve attended a dance where she met a handsome young man and her future husband, Woodrow W. “Woody” Taylor. The two married in 1942, raised four sons and traveled extensively. Woody preceded her in 1997, and at the age of 74, Genevieve embarked on a 20-year career as a business owner, taking buying trips and purchasing antiques which she sold at her booth in Andover Antique Mall. Throughout her life, Genevieve was privileged to travel throughout the United States, hiking the canyons, and camping in the national forests, but she felt most at home on the Kansas plains. She will miss her beloved sons, her days spent at the Antique Mall visiting with customers, the first wood violets of spring and the call of the western meadowlark. Preceding her in death are her husband Woodrow Taylor, son Scott, sisters Roberta, Thelma, Cleda, and Nadelyne. Surviving are three sons: Michael of Annapolis, MD; David and Mark of Wichita, seven grandchildren, one great granddaughter, and sister Carmen, of Fort Collins, CO. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Friday, June 2, 2023; Funeral Service will be at 12:30 pm, Saturday, June 3, 2023, both at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm at Old Mission Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219.
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Aunt Genny was a lover of nature and had a curious and knowledgeable intellect. She cared deeply about her family, and was always kind and welcoming to all of us nieces and nephews. I cherish memories of times spent with her as she pointed out watercress in the pond, or shared history of her button collection. May she rest in peace! Barbara Skaff Carson
Aunt Genny introduced me to the wide world of books. During summers I spent at her house with Mike and Scott she would let me peruse the many books she bought and sold. Through her I began to understand that there were often several books of history on the same subject and that they did not always agree. This was a valuable lesson for my young mind. May she rest in peace.
My deepest condolences.
My fondest memory of Aunt Genny was when she took me by the hand and walked me down Hydraulic Street to view my grandmother’s body. My second fondest is that she always smiled for a photo when I asked. I remember her in her kitchen cooking and her jars of sand plum jelly she shared. I make it because of her, to this day.
I love you I will be up routinely you tell grandpa Woodrow we will be having lunch together you guys I’ll see you soon. I love you forever and always Robin