Jean M. Huddleston- Taylor

Jean was born on March 16, 1927 to Anna and Daniel M. Lingle in a small rural community in Mulberry, Arkansas. She was a child of the era of the Great Depression. Still in her teens she found work in Washington, D.C. employed by several large airlines in service to the Capitol. It was there she met her first husband W.C. "Buddy" Huddleston, a decorated World War II pilot and the father of her two children, Susan Belle and James Patrick Huddleston. Her life was turned around completely in what was to be known as "The Wallace Lake Tragedy" in January of 1954 when an airplane crashed and burned in Wallace Lake near Shreveport killing not only her husband and the co-pilot, but ten local businessman and investors. The next several years proved to be some of her most trying but she was able to survive and overcome serious hardships. She met and married Charles A. Taylor. He was a wonderfully kind and supportive spouse and step-father until he was stricken with illness and died in July of 1972. It was at this time she took a leap of faith in several respects. She went back to school in her mid-40s and earned herself a nursing degree. She also gave her commitment to live out her life in service of her Lord, Jesus Christ. For the next thirty plus years she did exactly that as a dedicated and meritorious member of the nursing staff of Northwestern State Developmental Center. This wonderful institution came to be her second home, its employees and patients some of whom she nursed every day throughout their entire lifetime. Only physically unable to work Jean was convinced she should retire at the age of 80 years of age. Jean is survived by her daughter, Susan Huddleston Smith and husband Currie; son, James Patrick Huddleston; grandchildren, Tiffany S. Huddleston, David C. Smith and wife Pricilla, Daniel C. Smith and wife Sandy, and Sarah C. Smith Hall an husband Allon; great-grandchildren, Ford Thomas Owen, Taylor Belle Smith, Audrey Grace Smith, David Boston Smith, Naomi Angelique Smith, Ian Christian Smith, Paxton Andrew Hall, and Grant Samuel Hall; and numerous nieces and nephews. It was Jeans greatest desire to live a life to show others the true meaning of Christ's love. A memorial service for Jean will be at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Marshall Street in Shreveport, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.