Mary Joan Taylor the daughter of James "Roy" Allen and Mary Jane Burchett, was born at Hopkins, Missouri on March 1, 1944 and entered into rest at Red Oak, Iowa on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.

At the age of two she moved with her family to Shenandoah where she grew up and attended school graduating from Shenandoah High School. After graduating from high school she married and moved to Loveland, Colorado for 22 years. After her retirement she moved in 1990 back to Shenandoah, where she met Dean Taylor and was married June 17, 1995, making their home in Shenandoah.

After moving back to Shenandoah she worked for Pella Corporation as a spider-builder for 8 years. Joan was active member of the First Christian Church of Shenandoah. She loved to shop, travel, camp and sing.

Preceding her in death was her husband Dean, her father James Allen, step-father, Ellis Hastie and mother Mary Hastie; a daughter Sherry Burchett and son Larry Dean Howard.

Survivors include her two sons, Ellis Dean Howard and wife Melissa of Hastings, Nebraska and Christopher Dean Howard and significant other Stacey Newby of Shenandoah, Iowa; stepsons Herbert Leonard Taylor, Terry Lee Taylor both of Bellevue, NE, Christopher Lawrence Taylor of Lincoln, NE; step-daughter, Deanne Louise Taylor of Omaha, NE; Many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Also surviving is her step mother Dorothy Allen of Loveland, CO; sisters, Phyllis Houston (John) of Loveland, CO, Wanda Cruise ( Bezzer) of Loveland CO, Connie Wolf (Brian) of Decona, CO; brothers, Jimmy Allen (Linda) of Dillon, MT, Danny Allen (Yvonne) of Dillon, MT; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Celebration of life funeral service will be held 10:30 am, Friday, April 21, 2017 at the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

Memorials may be directed to Veterans Affairs or the Shenandoah Food Pantry.

Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.