After a difficult but short-lived battle with cancer, Teresa "Terri" Rose Taylor died peacefully on March 2, 2019 at North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She was surrounded by her family, including her mother, sisters and brothers, husband, and children, when she passed, just the way she wanted it to be.

Terri was born on April 19, 1956 in Marion, Ohio. She was the third born to mother Irene Ruga, née de Uriarte, and father William Ruga, both living. She grew up in Allegan, Michigan in a loving family with three sisters and one brother. Her parents and siblings were among her best friends. She often recalled memories of raising dogs, cats, and chickens with them growing up, and her love for animals persisted. She was devoted to her dogs Tasha, Missy, and Smokey , and after her retirement in 2015, she worked as a dog sitter, a job she loved.

After graduating from Allegan Senior High School, Terri earned her bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management from Michigan State University. She ultimately spent her career working at Perrigo Company in Allegan as a Packaging Specialist and Line Leader. During college, she took a year off to travel out west with her friend Lynn. They spent the summer of 1977 in Portland, Oregon, where Terri met her soulmate and husband of 39 years Alfred Earl "Earl" Taylor. Originally from Texas, Earl was stationed in Portland that summer while serving in the Navy. They married on August 17, 1979 at the Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade, Colorado.

She was intelligent, humble, patient, selfless, genuine, and kind and could find humor in just about any situation. She was the type of person who went out of her way every day to check in on family and friends just to see how she could help. She loved traveling around the US and hiking and camping with her husband Earl. Above all, she loved spending time with her children Sarah and Ben and especially her grandchildren Mia, Jack, William, and Cole.

Terri is survived by her husband Earl of Durham, North Carolina; daughter Sarah Taylor, son-in-law Danny Monroe, and grandchildren Mia and Jack Monroe of Durham, North Carolina; and son Benjamin Taylor, daughter-in-law Mary Taylor, and grandchildren William and Cole Taylor of San Diego, California.

She is also survived by her parents William and Irene Ruga of Allegan, Michigan; mother-in-law Beverly Taylor of Sugar Land, Texas; sister Barbara Ruga and her husband Gary Noble of Arizona; sister Cynthia Hermanson and her husband Karl of Michigan; sister Mary Young and her husband Robert of Indiana; brother William Ruga and his wife Sally of Michigan; brother-in-law James Taylor of Texas; sister-in-law Virgie Bergman of Texas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Terri was preceded in death by her father-in-law Alfred Taylor, mother-in-law Carolyn Abernathy, and sister-in-law Ladonna Byrd.

Terri will be laid to rest at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, North Carolina

March 8, 2019

11:30 AM

2911 S Wilmington St

Raleigh, NC 27603

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church (Saint Edwards Hall) in Allegan, Michigan

March 13, 2019

5:30 - 7:30 PM

110 N Cedar St

Allegan, MI 49010

If you choose, please donate flowers through Garner Florist: https://www.garnerncflorist. com/contact_us.php