Elizabeth Hawkins Taylor

Elizabeth Hawkins Taylor peacefully completed her earthly sojourn at home in the midst of her family on November 1, 2015.  She was born August 29, 1926, in Celestia, South Carolina, to Stacy & Ida Mae Ouzts. 

Elizabeth had many gifts, the most pronounced of which were both her gift to love others unconditionally and her gift to believe in Heavenly Father and to exercise a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ.  She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for which she served two missions.  Additionally, she was artistically talented and left many beautiful paintings to her posterity.

She lived life to its fullest in that she truly appreciated all that her circumstances in life offered her, whether great or small.  She taught her children that their greatest assets are family and friends and not possessions.

Although Elizabeth was blessed to travel the world and witness marvelous things, yet she also found greatness in simplicity.  She loved the site of majestic sunsets, the smell fresh flowers, the kiss of a grandchild and the taste of southern cooked green beans.

In 1944, Elizabeth met Reed C. Hawkins a young sailor from Boise, Idaho, in Charleston S.C., while his ship was in dry dock.  Reed was smitten by this southern belle.  The couple fell in love and solemnized their marriage and was sealed for time and all eternity in October 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Once married, the couple settled in Boise, Idaho, where for the most part they raised their family and were involved in several businesses.  Although Elizabeth was far from her family in South Carolina, she stayed connected with them as best she could.  Reed was sensitive to her need to visit her family and he loaded her and the kids into the family car and made several cross-country trips from Idaho to South Carolina to visit her relatives.  The memories of these trips remain sacred experiences and are often recounted at family gatherings.

Elizabeth was not only a very active mother, but she also actively participated with Reed in several businesses in which they were involved.  These businesses included State Street Beverage and Sporting Goods, the Wellerville Grocery, the Hawkins Red Steer & KFC, and others. 

Together Reed and Elizabeth coined the phrase, “Always a project, forever a dream.” This became a theme of their eternal partnership.  During their marriage, the couple lived in many different homes.  Each home became a project for Elizabeth.  The family fondly remembers that she always had a hammer and a screwdriver in her purse.  She had an innate talent to create beauty wherever she lived.  As an example, the couple’s first house was a chicken coop located on Roosevelt Street.  Elizabeth transformed the coop into a beautiful palace.  Over time the couple undertook numerous projects.  Perhaps their fondest projects were their two cabins in McCall, Idaho.  There they created more than walls and roofs; they created everlasting memories for their children and grandchildren.  After 49 years of marriage, in 1994, Elizabeth’s eternal companion Reed passed away.

Elizabeth married Marlow Taylor in 1995 and became famous with her new name Elizabeth Taylor.  She was broken hearted when Marlow recently passed away in March of 2015.

She is survived by her brother Milton Ouzts, and her five children and their spouses.  Gary Hawkins (Gail), Jan Cottrell, Sherie Anderson (Bill), LuAnn Warren (Brad), Karen Cochell (Perry).  She is also survived by four of her five stepchildren.  Val Taylor, Marla Stimmel (Edward), Carrie Taylor and Phillip Taylor (Irene).  Her stepdaughter, Wendy Harvey and her grandson, Jason Hawkins, preceded her in death.   She was loved and adored by her grandchildren.  Between she and Marlow they had 40 grandchildren and 80 great grandchildren.

There will be a viewing for family and friends at 11:00 a.m. with services starting at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5th at Russon Brothers Funeral Home located at 295 North Main Street in Bountiful, UT.  On Saturday, November 7th family and friends may gather at 10:30 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. service at Relyea Funeral Home located at 318 North Latah in Boise, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers the family would prefer that you spend time with family and friends and enrich the life of someone in need.