Lois A. (Barekman) Taylor

Lois A. Taylor, age 97, formerly of Vincennes, Indiana passed away Monday, November 27, 2023, at Griggsville Estates in Griggsville, Illinois. She was born in Lawrence County, Illinois to Lester and Florence Barekman.

Lois grew up in Lawrence County and graduated from Trinity High School in Evansville, Indiana and then Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois.

Lois married Samuel Taylor of Vincennes in April 1950. After he graduated from Olivet Nazarene University, they pastored Winslow and Roachdale, Indiana Church of the Nazarene in Southern Indiana. Samuel was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in 1955. In 1959 the Taylor’s were appointed to foreign missionary service by the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene. They spent 20 years in foreign service which was in Guyana, South America, Trinidad and Barbados and the Bahamas. Dr. Taylor was responsible for building 7 new churches on the fields and served as Field Superintendent for 14 years. After returning to the States, they pastored Bloomington Eastside, Vincennes First during the 1980’s and then 6 years at Columbus First where a beautiful new sanctuary was erected during their ministry and then they served 4 ½ years at Petersburg, Indiana where he suffered a fatal heart attack in March 1998. Through 45 years in full time ministry Lois served in many positions. Teaching for many years, conducting Vacation Bible School, music, storytelling and speaking in many churches on missions. She was also a good cook and cooked many meals for General Superintendents, District Superintendents and many others. In fact, she received the loving name of ‘Martha’ as she prepared food and pushed it through the dining window in Barbados to 6 Indiana visiting pastors who were all holding revivals for the week.

Lois is survived by daughter, Rebecca (John) Freesmeyer; four grandchildren, Melissa (Owen L) Brown, David (Ashli) Freesmeyer, Bethany (Michael) Emmons, and Daniel Hedge; seventeen great grandchildren, Ethan, Brianna, Alana, Ace, Justin, Elan, Ava, Noah, Olivia, Wesley, Aliyah, Colt, Ava, Lydia, Taylor, Serenity, and Sofia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Florence Barekman; husband of 48 years, Samuel M. Taylor; daughter, Rachel Leann; infant great grandson, Sammy Hedge; infant great grandson, Joziah Emmons; nephew, David Alexander; siblings, William (Delores) Barekman and Helen (Charles) Alexander.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, on December 4, 2023, at Goodwin Sievers Funeral Home at 524 Broadway, Vincennes, Indiana. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes, Indiana.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lois A. (Barekman) Taylor, please visit our floral store.