Bonita "Kathy" Kathleen Cool Taylor

Bonita Kathleen “Kathy” Cool Taylor, 84, of Ashland, Kentucky was released from the prison of Alzheimer’s while at Oakmont Manor Nursing Home, to join the Lord on December 8, 2020. Kathy was born December 6, 1936 in Belcher, Kentucky to the late Corbett and Thurla (Belcher) Cool.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 31 years, Howard James Taylor; two sisters Jeweline Cool of Belcher, Kentucky and Imal Hunt of Greenup, Kentucky; and three brothers Dale Cool of Belcher, Kentucky, Sherwood Cool of Pikeville, Kentucky, and Gene Durward Cool of Greenup, Kentucky.

Kathy was valedictorian of her 1955 senior class at Elkhorn City High School in Elkhorn City, Kentucky, a 1959 graduate of Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky and graduated with two master’s degrees from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky.

After graduation, Kathy joined the staff of the Norton Church of Christ (now the Eastpointe Christian Church) in Columbus, Ohio where she served as Youth Minister, Choir Director, and Church Secretary. After leaving Norton, Kathy returned to Grayson to teach school at Prichard High School in Grayson and at the former Greenup High School in Greenup, Kentucky for several years. She was a professor at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky and at New York Christian Institute in Buffalo, New York for many years. Kathy moved to Steubenville, Ohio after her marriage to Howard where she was very active with the LaBelle View Church of Christ, taught extension classes for Great Lakes Bible College and directed the Gospel Keys, an area ladies’ choir.

Kathy and Howard eventually moved to New York City to conduct mission/church work with the Bay Ridge Christian Church in Brooklyn, New York. While there, Kathy and Howard also ran a Christian pre-school for children. While in New York, Kathy became a licensed tour guide for New York City, was a certified personality trainer, and a public speaker for women’s retreats and conferences throughout the states.

In 1998, Kathy and Howard returned to Columbus, Ohio where Kathy served as Pastoral Care Minister for the Eastpointe Christian Church. In 2009, Kathy moved to Ashland, Kentucky where she lived with her sisters prior to becoming a resident at Oakmont Manor.

Kathy is survived by a daughter Cathy (Rod) O’Donnell of Belpre, Ohio; a son Barry (Lynne) Taylor of Huntington, West Virginia; three grandchildren Skye (David) Moody of San Antonio, Texas, Bethany Taylor of Lexington, Kentucky, and Thad Taylor of Huntington, West Virginia; two sisters Bea Cool Smith and Glima Cool Hall of Ashland, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.

Kathy’s goal in life was to go to heaven and take as many people as possible with her. Her travels took her throughout the United States to Mexico, Canada, Israel, Greece, Russia, India, and Poland. She never failed to share her love of God and the need for everyone to love and follow Him and had no fear in doing so.

Kathy’s family would like to thank the staff at Oakmont Manor for their loving care for “Kat” these past five years and treating her as “family”.

A private family service will be conducted at Reed Funeral Home in Greenup, Kentucky by Lead Minister Jason Lykins. A graveside service will be held at noon on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Union Cemetery in Steubenville, Ohio by Pastor Jeff Hugus.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the Howard and Kathy Taylor Scholarship Fund at Kentucky Christian University, 100 Academic Parkway, Grayson, Kentucky 41143.