Page 34 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine

In October 1957, Virginia Taylor married C. Joe self-reliant woman. Her long, full life has not been
Taylor (no relation) at the ranch home. They farmed without tragedy, and that is part of her story, too.
for a few years, then spent two summers managing Both her father and her only brother were killed in
accidents on the ranch. She lost her husband of 54
years during his open-heart surgery just a few years
ago. But she and her little sister visit often, and her
five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
are the delight of her life. She sums up her story in
three words, “I’m truly blessed!” And she quotes
this verse from a poem by Red Steagall called “The
Memories in Grandmother’s Trunk”:

“Life on this planet is
still marching on,
and I hope that my
grandchildren see
a guest ranch in Colorado. After her only brother my side of life through
was killed in a tragic accident on the ranch, they the trinkets I’ve saved
returned home to help her father. They raised two
children, Gregory Blake and Rise Shea, both of whom the way grandmother’s
were active in sports and in the community before trunk does for me.”
graduating from
Lockney High
School.

One day, the
Taylors attended the
National Cowboy
Symposium in
Lubbock. “Joe got
the chuckwagon
bug, so we got
involved with
the NCSC and
began hosting
tours and meals
on the ranch. The
symposium also inspired me to give cowboy poetry
a try. We had the opportunity to travel to several
states where I performed. We spent 25 years cooking
and performing with the NCSC.” She is grateful for
the countless friends they met across the country
through the National Cowboy Symposium.

Virginia continues to reside on and help manage the
ranch where she was raised. She still participates
often in civic and church fundraisers. In fact, the
Lockney Chamber of Commerce named her Woman
of the Year in 1967. The strength of character in
Virginia’s pioneer heritage lives on in this cheerful,

34 Lubbock Senior Link