Barbara (Taylor) Sherman

BARBARA JANE (TAYLOR) SHERMAN

Rapid City, S.D.

Barbara Jane (Taylor) Sherman, 93, of Rapid City, S.D., formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Aug. 23, 2018, at Regional Health Rapid City Hospital.

Honoring her request, she was cremated. Barbara is survived by her children, George W. Taylor (Charlotte) of Citrus Heights, Calif., Suisan H. Goldberg (Kenneth Burnside), J. Robert Taylor (Jennifer) and Douglas E. Taylor (Elaine), all of Cedar Rapids; 10 grandchildren, Jason, Christie, Eric, Aimee, Aaron, Alyse, Renee, Felicia, Phillip and Michelle; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Caroline Slader; brother, Eugene; sisters, Jo and Sue; and two daughters, Nancy and Carol.

Barbara was born Feb. 8, 1925, in Galesburg, Ill. After graduating high school there, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, responding to the shortage of nurses during World War II. She met and married James W. Taylor, who was serving in the U.S. Navy at that time. They later divorced. She worked in various bookkeeping and secretarial positions both in Cedar Rapids and in Las Vegas, where she moved with her children in 1972. There she met and eventually married John J. Sherman. They resided many years in Pahrump, Nev., until his passing in 2002. She then returned to Cedar Rapids, where she worked at Wal-Mart and later at the Oakland Road Hy-Vee.

Barbara had a zest for life, and it could be said that she didn't let the grass grow long under her feet! She loved to travel, whether by car, plane or train. A highlight for her was a trip to Scotland, touching on ancestral roots. She was deeply spiritual and passionate about sharing her beliefs. This brought her to encounter people from all walks of life. They did not remain strangers for long, as she treated them like family. She had a thirst for knowledge, always looking to educate herself. This led her to study reflexology and to become a Reiki Master. She had a lifelong love and admiration for the American Indians, part of which led her to relocate to Rapid City, S.D., in 2016. There she was adopted as "Grandma Lily" by the local Lakota Sioux Tribe.

Barbara loved the outdoors and the many adventures of walking and exploring creation. She always was moved by the beauty of the trees and majestic mountains. She had a special way with animals and seemed to "commune" with them! She had an easy laugh and always seemed to have a smile. She had a simple yet elegant way about her. And she definitely will be remembered as having endless energy - a woman on a mission of living life to the fullest!

Barbara will be greatly missed by all who knew her, and the countless lives over her 93 years who she touched. An informal gathering and celebration of her life will be held at Cornerstone Church, 925 Blairs Ferry Rd., Marion, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, from 3 to 5 p.m.