Jane Taylor Allred

Jane Taylor Allred, 71, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on 13 October 2022 in Abilene.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm, Sunday, 30 October 2022, at First Baptist Abilene with Brother Rodney Watson of Lytle South Baptist Church officiating.  All who knew Jane are welcome to attend. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Gloria Jane Taylor Allred was born in Abilene, Texas, to Curtis Lynn Taylor and Elizabeth King Harris Taylor on 18 August 1951. She attended school both in Abilene and Clyde, Texas. She graduated from Clyde High School  in 1969 and Hardin-Simmons University in 1973, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree. In the 1970s, Jane and her family lived in Austin, where she worked as a special educator at the Austin State School. While in Austin, Jane obtained a Master of Education Degree from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.

In 1979, Jane and her family moved back to Abilene, where Jane began a career of 40 years with the Abilene ISD. From 1979 to 2003, Jane served as the Lead Teacher and then Principal at Houston Student Achievement Center (SAC). At SAC, Jane led a close-knit team of special educators that worked with, loved on, and blessed AISD's most challenging students. She guided teachers in working with behavioral issues, and emotionally disturbed and at-risk students. In 2003, Jane transitioned to O.H. Cooper High School where she was a dedicated Associate Principal. In 2011, Jane returned to special education as an Associate Principal at the Jefferson Center, where she continued helping hundreds of students learn how to cope with conflict so they could return to their home campuses. In 2012 she was promoted to Director at the Jefferson Center, a role she worked in until her retirement in 2019. Throughout her career, Jane also consulted and spoke at conferences throughout Texas, sharing her skills, wisdom, and experience with other teachers. She was admired by hundreds of educators who took her workshops that learned how to effectively help at-risk students. During her time as an educator, Jane received numerous awards including the following: Abilene Teacher of the Year in 1994, Region XIV Teacher of the Year for 1994-95, and 1999-2000 Special Services/Professional Support Person of the Year for the Abilene Association of Texas Professional Educators to name a few. 



Following her retirement, she remained committed to making a difference for children who might otherwise slip through the cracks in an overburdened system. In 2019, Jane was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.

Even outside of work, over the years Jane blessed the Abilene community with her dedication and love of life. For many years, she was a member of Lytle South Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School to "seasoned" adults. She was also a member of the church’s ladies’ ensemble, Homeward Bound. For a time, Jane played the clarinet in the Abilene Community Band. She also enjoyed participating in local theatre, including performing the title role in the play Mina Tonight at Abilene Community Theatre, as well as an ensemble member in the musical Bonnie & Clyde at The Paramount Abilene (in which she got to perform alongside her son Grayson). 

Most recently, Jane enjoyed spending her time with her grandchildren, children, and friend Ralph, as well as with her dogs, Missy and Copper. Family was very important to her.

Jane was preceded in death by her father Curtis Taylor, mother Elizabeth Taylor, sister Joyce Carey, and granddaughter Mary Emma Hope Allred. 

Jane is survived by her sons, Chad and wife Randi, Grayson and wife Anila, and Patrick; her brother, Lynn and wife Terri; her brother-in-law, Edwin; her grandchildren, Micah, Samuel and wife Joy, Joseph, Elijah, Phoebe Jane, Matthias, Madison, and Coleman; and her friend Ralph.

Memorials may be given to the Abilene Education Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Lytle South Baptist Church.