Sandra Taylor, 42-Year Employee, Dies at Age 66

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Sandra Taylor, center, was honored in 2007 for 40 years of service to the University of Arkansas. She is pictured with Sharon Hunt, professor of recreation and former head of the department of health, human performance and recreation, and Reed Greenwood, professor of education reform and former dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. Taylor retired two years later.

Sandra Ruth Taylor, 66, an employee of the University of Arkansas for 42 years, passed away May 18 in Fayetteville. Taylor worked as a cashier in the intramural and recreational sports program, now called University Recreation.

Sharon Hunt, professor of recreation and former head of the department of health, human performance and recreation, said she met Taylor in 1969 when Hunt was an 18-year-old freshman at the university.

“Sandra handed out towels to those of us enrolled in a senior lifesaving/water safety instructor course that was held in the old swimming pool located in what is now Silas Hunt Hall,” Hunt said. “Sandra dedicated her entire 42-year career to the University of Arkansas. She had a loving and generous spirit, and she took care of all of us who were fortunate enough to have the privilege of working with her. We affectionately referred to her as the ‘Queen Bee’ of the HPER Building. She is gone from our workplace, but she will long be remembered in our hearts.”

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, May 23, and funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 24. Both will be held at Beard’s Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville. Burial will be in Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Taylor was born Jan. 8, 1947, in Fayetteville. She graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1965. She was an animal lover and enjoyed writing poems and stories about them and many other things.

Taylor’s husband, Roy Lee Taylor, preceded her in death. She is survived by two sons, one daughter, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two brothers, three sisters, one aunt, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Taylor’s memory to the Humane Society of the Ozarks, 1020 S. One Mile Road, Fayetteville, AR 72704.