Emily Taylor

Ms. Taylor died Saturday, May 1, 2004, in Lawrence.

She was born Mary Emily Taylor on April 13, 1915, in Columbia, Ala., the daughter of Lee R. and Laura Rollins Taylor. She graduated from DeGraff (Ohio) High School. She received an associate’s degree from Urbana Junior College, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University and a doctorate from the Indiana University.

Ms. Taylor was dean of women at Kansas University from 1956 to 1975, then director of the Office of Women in Higher Education of the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C. She received honorary doctorates from Seattle University and Urbana University, the KU Distinguished Service Citation, Citizen of the Years from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Substantial Citizen Award from Kiwanis, Don Volker Award from Leadership Lawrence, Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club, KANU Recognition Award for distinguished service to public radio and the Soroptomist Club award for service to women. She was inducted into the KU Women’s Hall of Fame, Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, Urbana University’s Hall of Excellence and the Private Colleges of Ohio Foundation Hall of Distinction. She worked on women’s and elderly issues and was a public member on the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. She helped form the Caring Community Council dedicated to death with dignity.

Survivors include a sister, Genevieve McMahon, Lawrence; two nephews, Drew Catan, Mountain View, Calif., and David McMahon, Fairfield, Conn.; and two nieces, Penny Dash, Cypress, Calif., and Delia Courtney, Asheville, N.C.

The family suggests memorials to the Taylor-Stokstad Women’s Leadership Lecture Series, sent in care of the KU Endowment Association. Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home is handling arrangements.