Angela L. ‘Angie’ Taylor

WACO, Texas – Angela Lee Taylor, 52, formerly of Dixon, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Angela Lee “Angie” Taylor, a beloved daughter and sister, a cherished friend, an animal lover, a devoted Christian, and a lifelong advocate for the Deaf community, passed away from an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. She was 52 years old.

Angie grew up in Dixon, where she attended several local public schools. At the time, sign language was not permitted at school. Angie’s family worked tirelessly with her at home to ensure she could speak, a rarity for Deaf children, read lips, and knew the basics of American Sign Language.

At the age of 12, Angie transferred to Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. She thrived in the Deaf community and strongly felt that attending ISD forever altered the course of her life. She was a cheerleader, played field hockey, and made lifelong friends.

Angie went on to attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation – recreational therapy, and later attained a master’s degree in sign language education, also from Gallaudet.

She co-authored the book “Signing for Dummies,” which was published in 2003, and remains in print today.

Angie lived in Washington, D.C. for a number of years, and worked at Family Service Foundation Inc. She also spent several years living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she worked at Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. There she worked as both a sign language consultant and as an interpreting services coordinator, while serving as an adjunct professor at Pikes Peak Community College. Angie later taught Deaf Culture and Advanced American Sign Language at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois. Before her death, she was serving as both an assistant professor at McLennan Community College, and as an adjunct professor at Baylor University, both in Waco.

For the last 6 months, Angie has been spending time in Houston, receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Angie absolutely loved Houston, and while her cancer was painful, she still enjoyed her stay in the city. She would check into hotels with her mother, Virginia, and sister, Laura, order room service, partake of the city’s restaurants, and take short walks.

Angie was on vacation in Santa Fe when her cancer took over. She was admitted to hospice at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Hospital, and 8 days later, after being blessed by the Archbishop of Santa Fe, she passed peacefully with Virginia, Laura, and her beloved dog, Isaiah, by her side.

Angie was deeply loved and will be terribly missed.

She is survived by her mother, Virginia Taylor, and father, Robert “Bob” Taylor of Dixon; her brother, Rob (Heather) Taylor of Polo; and sister, Laura Taylor of Austin, Texas. She also is survived by nieces, Peyton and Parker Taylor of Polo, and Hailey Lillyman of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

She leaves several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many close friends in both the hearing and Deaf communities.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, most recently Lois B. Fryman, and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A celebration of life to honor Angie will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Evangelical Congregational Church in Dixon.