Obituary of Carol Gay VanKleeck

Carol G. VanKleeck, age 70, of Greenview Missouri, joined her maker on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at her residence in Greenview. She was born in St. Louis Missouri on February 25, 1939 to Otto & Lillith (Brawner) Bates. She graduated from Pacific High School in Pacific Missouri in 1957. She later married James C. Taylor and they had four children together. They later relocated to Arizona where Carol worked as a state employee for the school system. She was loved by many within the schools where she worked and had inspired and mentored numerous children who considered her to be like a mother and grandmother. She then retired in 1996 from the Arizona public school system with honors and came back to her loved home of Missouri. She enjoyed fishing, camping, reading, cooking and visiting with close friends. She had many cherished friends and fond memories in the Greenview area. She had a very caring heart and giving soul. She was preceded in death by her parents. Carol is survived by her brother Ronald Bates and his wife Laverne of Gerald, Missouri; her daughter, Lana Wassler and her husband Dave of St. Louis Missouri; her daughter Leah Taylor of Columbia Missouri; her son James Taylor, Jr. and his wife Jackie of Spring Grove, Illinois; her daughter Diana Tucker of Greenview, Missouri; her nephews Preston Bates of Farmington, Missouri and Terry Bates and wife Jessica also of Farmington, Missouri; her great nephew, John Bates and his wife Amy of Farmington, Missouri; nine wonderful grandchildren and five beautiful great-grandchildren. She also had a cherished friend, Linda Beard and her husband T.J. Salas of Climax Springs, Missouri.