Marlene (Pearson) Taliaferro

Marlene Pearson Taliaferro, 99 of Mortons Gap passed away Friday, October 13, 2023, at Ridgewood Terrace Nursing Home.  Born March 13, 1924, to the late Clyde and Holly (Driskill) Pearson of White Plains.  

Preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, William "Bill" Taliaferro; brother, Talmadge (Juanita) Pearson; sister, Rita (Roy) Whitfield; son-in-law, Ernie Canler; daughter-in-law, Sandy Taliaferro; brother-in-law, Chester Knight.

Survived by her daughters, Sheila Canler (Glenn Wagner) of Evansville and Linda (Darrell) Berry of Mortons Gap; sons, Brad (Shelia) Taliaferro of Mortons Gap and Bob (Jeannie) Taliaferro of Madisonville; sister, Julia Knight of Mortons Gap; 7 grandchildren, Paula Berry, Shelley (Kevin) Pennington, Greg (Kristy) Taliaferro, Eric (Heather) Canler, Stephanie Taliaferro (Chad Crick), Brian (Kodie) Taliaferro and Frances Taliaferro; 13 great-grandchildren, Kole, Allie and Savannah Pennington, Brett (Morgan) Canler, Riley, Carson and Karly Taliaferro, Austin and Cole Crick, Blayne Taliaferro, Reese Oldham, Anniston and Hunter Hardrick; 2 great-great-grandchildren, Duke Pennington and Rylee Canler; and several nieces and nephews.

Service will be held at 2:00pm Sunday, October 15, at Bandy Funeral Home in Nortonville with Bro. Lin Young officiating.  Burial to follow at Concord Cemetery in White Plains.  Visitation will begin at noon at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be Kevin and Kole Pennington, Eric and Brett Canler, Greg and Brian Taliaferro.

In Marlene’s nearly 100 years on earth, she experienced more life than can be put on paper. She was an original Rosie the Riveter when her country called on her during World War II. She then became a war nurse where she met her doting husband. After the war, they settled in the small community of Mortons Gap where they raised their family. Marlene worked many years at Trover Clinic, Ramada Inn and in retirement, opened J & M Upholstery with her sister, Julia.

She had a great love for her community and home town and the people of Mortons Gap. She spent her life working for the improvement and beautification of this place she loved and making it better for those she cared about. She believed in leaving things better than she found them.  Marlene developed PTA programs for the south end of the county. She planned festivals and sock hops and even taught the kids the latest dances. As a result, she was invited to Washington DC and was recognized nationally for her commitment to our youth and schools.

Her work in Mortons Gap is still visible today. She was a founding member of the Mortons Gap Civic Club. She organized and planned the Bicentennial Celebration and created the town’s annual Coalfield Festival. She served several terms on the Mortons Gap City Council. Marlene worked tirelessly to improve the town’s public works and City Park and provided the original Christmas lights that still decorate the downtown area. She remained interested in the growth and improvement and continued to offer ideas and suggestions and attend events and City Council meetings well into her 90’s. She stressed the importance of being involved to those close to her.

 Because of her community involvement, Marlene received many accolades. She was honored as a Kentucky Colonel. Marlene was the first woman to be named the Jaycee’s Woman of the Year. By proclamation of the Governor, her 90th birthday was observed as Marlene Taliaferro Day and she was given the key to the city at Mortons Gap City Hall.

 Marlene loved to travel, dance and entertain. She enjoyed swinging on her front porch and looking at the moon.  But by far, her greatest source of pride and happiness was her large family. She was known simply as “Granny” by many but for nearly a century, Marlene was “Queen of darn near everything.”

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