Vitula Taylor McLeroy

Vitula Taylor McLeroy, age 71, died on Saturday, April 7, 2018 after a brief illness. She was born on March 22, 1947, to Ella Rogers Taylor and Ed Taylor, both deceased. Vitula, known as Vi to her friends, spent her elementary and secondary education in the Hazen Public Schools. She graduated from State College of Arkansas in 1969 with a B.S. degree in mathematics, and received her Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1987. She taught middle school math in Stuttgart and Springdale, Ark.; Starkville, Miss.; and in Arlington, Texas. She was a lifelong Arkansas Razorback fan as well as an avid Texas Rangers baseball and a Dallas Stars hockey fan. She and her husband, Paul McLeroy, enjoyed traveling, especially to the Caribbean, as well as trips overseas to Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Vi is preceded in death by both of her parents; her half-brother, Richard Gene Taylor; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her brother, Roger Lynn Taylor and wife, Becky of Melissa, Texas; nephews, Brett Taylor of Allen, Texas, and Russ Taylor of Rogers, Ark., Dean Taylor of Jonesboro; and brother-in-law, Leonard James McLeroy (Penny) of Conway. Although Vi had not lived in Hazen in many years, she enjoyed visiting with former classmates and relatives at least twice a year. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Hazen with burial immediately following at Hazen Cemetery. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.