Donna Jean Taylor

DONNA JEAN TAYLOR, 86, of Mattoon, IL formerly of Oakland, IL passed away at 4:45 A.M. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 15, 2026 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221, East Main Street in Arcola, IL. Pastor Dan Haifley will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Guinn Cemetery at a later date.

Donna was born on December 13, 1939 in Arcola, IL, a daughter of Donald and Mary (Wright) Perkins. She married Ronald J. Taylor on March 31, 1957 in Arcola, IL. He passed away on February 21, 2020.

She is survived by three daughters, Cathy Taylor of Dunlap, IL, Brenda Scribner and her husband Dave, and Ronda Mesa and her husband Pablo all of Sullivan, IL; nine grandchildren, Ashley, Paul, Caleb, Amy, Wendy, Brodie, Tim, Amy and Kyle, eleven great-grandchildren, Draven, Eden, Leona, Iris, Jaxon, Matthew, Taylee, Teagan, Amelia, Freddie and Mickey, and one sister, Ruth Ann Yoder and her husband Allen of Arcola, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Mary Perkins, her husband Ronnie, daughter Lisa Tomas and her husband Dale, and a grandson, Joshua Tomas.

Donna was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Oakland, IL. She spent many years raising her girls and working with Ronnie on the farm. She drove a school bus in Oakland while her children were young. She then worked at the University of Illinois for 15 years before retiring.

Donna was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who found joy in the simple things, cherishing time spent with her family and close friends. She was rarely without the company of her beloved cat, Buddy, and could often be found enjoying a classic Western on TV. She was a faithful friend to many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Memorials may be made to the Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL.