Mary Elisabeth was born in Omaha, NE to John and Mary Kathryn (Meier) Taylor. Elisabeth and her brother, Jack (John Taylor) grew up in Grand Island and it was there that she was given the nickname "Sissy". During her school years, her closest friends were known as the "Shmoos". These ten friends continued to stay in touch through the years by round-robin newsletters and periodic reunions.
She attended the University of Nebraska, and following her aunt, she became a member of Kappa Delta sorority. This legacy continued as two of her daughters, and two of her granddaughters also became Kappa Deltas. Upon graduation 1956, she entered a junior management-training program with AT&T. She was transferred to St. Louis in 1957 where she met Walter. They were married on August 23, 1958, and became the parents of three daughters, Mary, Sarah and Elisabeth (Betsy).
Over the years, Elisabeth and Walter also lived in Houston, TX; Great Falls, VA; and McLean, VA, before retiring to Williamsburg, VA. In 2008, they moved to Highland Springs.
Elisabeth loved scuba diving, bird watching, family genealogy, traveling, art history, skiing and nature. She was a graduate and discussion leader of Bible Study Fellowship. Elisabeth was also a member of P.E.O., DAR, Republican Women’s Club and women’s ministry at church. She was a member of Town North Presbyterian Church (PCA).
Her favorite vacation site was the beloved island her grandfather bought in 1923 on Lake Vermillion in northern Minnesota. Elisabeth and Walter built a cabin in 1986 in anticipation of spending summers there after retirement. As their family grew, a second cabin was built. Elisabeth spent over seven decades of glorious summers on the island with her family, her brother and his family, and many other island and Cook, MN friends.
Elisabeth "Sissy" Kurth will be remembered for her beauty, intelligence, quick-wit and sense of humor. She was cheerful and positive, even in the midst of her physical suffering. But most of all, she would like to be remembered as a Christian who loved and memorized the Lord’s Word, and lived it daily.
She is survived by her husband Walter and their three daughters and their husbands, Mary and Kevin Foley (Tulsa,OK), Sarah and Rodney Edge (Sachse, TX) and Elisabeth (Betsy) and Michael Quinn (Oak Hill, VA) and their grandchildren, Mary Kathryn (Katie) and Lauren A Foley, Jacob and Joshua Edge and Taylor, William and Patrick Quinn.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1030 A.M. on Monday, January 9 at Highland Springs Retirement Community, 8000 Frankford Road, Dallas, TX 75252.
The family request no flowers, however those who desire may contribute to the Highland Springs Scholarship Fund, Attn Finance Department at the above address.