Sheila Gay Connell Taylor

Sheila Gay Connell Taylor

March 15, 1954 - May 10, 2016

BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Sheila Gay Connell Taylor, age 62, was born on March 15, 1954, in Lincoln, Neb. She died in Omaha, Neb., on May 10, 2016. Sheila's family surrounded her when she went to be with the loved ones that had gone before her.

Sheila was the middle child of Richard and Bonnie (Barnett) Krueger. She attended country school at District 15 through the fifth grade. She then attended Norris Consolidated Schools until she graduated in May of 1972. After graduation, Sheila worked at Norden Laboratories in Lincoln, Neb., for one year. To further her education, Sheila attended the University of Nebraska School Of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Neb. She received her associates of science degree in veterinary technology. Sheila worked for the Curtis Care Center as a nurse aide while she went to school. Then she was hired at the Beatrice Veterinary Hospital and worked at their facilities for one year.

In 1975, Sheila moved to Norfolk, where she trained and worked as a nurse aide at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Care Center. On March 20, 1976, Sheila married Kevin Connell. Their daughter, Jamie Anne, was born on Dec. 2, 1976.

After recovering from a 14-month illness, Sheila was trained by the Nebraska Rehabilitation at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Neb. At the end of her training, Sheila received an associate of science degree with high honors in business administration and accounting.

In 1985, Sheila married Greg Taylor. To this union, Sarah Elise was born on May 19, 1987. During this time, Sheila was able to stay home and be active in the Bushnell United Methodist Church.

In 1999, she was called into the ministry. Sheila's first appointment as interim pastor was with the Elsie-Madrid United Methodist Parish. After four months, she was appointed as the licensed local pastor for the Mitchell-Hull United Methodist Parish. Sheila and her family were blessed to serve the parish and community for 11 years. In 2011, Sheila was reappointed to the Ponca-Allen Methodist Parish. In 2013, Sheila and her husband Greg moved to Stratton, where she was appointed as the Benkelman-Max-Stratton (BMS) United Methodist Parish licensed local pastor. Sheila retired from the ministry 17 years later to be with her family as a wife and mother. During retirement, Sheila was shown different ways to serve the community and God.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Richard Krueger and Kenneth and Shirley Taylor and her son, Jonathon Richard.

Survivors include her husband, Gregory of Stratton; daughter, Jamie Connell of Kearney, Neb.; daughter, Sarah Taylor of Kansas City, Mo.; mother, Bonnie Krueger of Roca, Neb.; older brother, Terry Krueger and wife, Shari of Lincoln; younger sister, Dawn Hatterman and husband, Phil of Kansas City, Mo.; brother and sister-in-law, Kenton and Nancy Taylor of Colby, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be Saturday, May 28, 2016, 11 a.m. (MT) at United Methodist Church of Benkelman, with Pastor Richard Savage and Rev. Alisa Parde officiating. A private family inurnment will occur at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Camp Norwesca, or the Brain Research Foundation, 111 W. Washington Street, #1710, Chicago, Ill. 60602

On line condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Benkelman Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.