Elizabeth Estes Taylor, 91, of Lorena, Texas, passed away peacefully at home, Sunday, May 3, 2026. A visitation will be held at Grace Gardens Funeral Home from 5-7 on Monday, May 11, 2026. There will be a celebration of her life on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at the Lorena Methodist Church at 10 am, with burial to follow at the Lorena Cemetery (846 S. Front Rd., Lorena, TX). Family and friends are invited to a light lunch at the family home following the short graveside service.

Elizabeth was born on October 29, 1934 at Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas and was a lifelong Texan. She was the older child of John Claude Estes and Elizabeth Ruth Williams Estes of Lorena. Her early years were spent riding horses, playing with her dolls, and playing with her younger brother, John Peeler Estes. She had many fond memories of growing up in the family homeplace in Lorena: Ten Oaks Ranch, with lots of outdoor adventures, hunting and fishing. Her many cousins were also special to her and she kept in touch with her dear cousin Rachel and her Williams cousins throughout her life. Elizabeth was a proud descendent of Shapley Prince Ross and Catherine Fulkerson Ross. Shapley & Catherine were two of the first citizens of Waco, Texas. One of their sons, Sul Ross, was a Governor of Texas, a Texas Ranger with his father Shapley, and President of Texas A&M University. That lifelong love of history guided Elizabeth. She was a proud member of DRT, DAR, Daughters of 1812, UDC, Magna Charta Dames, and a board member of the McLennan County Historical Society. Elizabeth was a lifelong member of the Lorena Methodist Church (where her grandfather, Henry Clay Williams was one of the first members), active in church activities. She also belonged to the Lorena Woman’s Club, the Waco Literary Club and 3 different Red Hat Clubs.

Elizabeth’s education was of great value to her. She had a fabulous memory of poems, literature, and songs. She kept remarkable command of her Spanish that she had minored in at Baylor. She attended the Lorena Grammar School, Lorena Jr. High School, then transferred to the Hockaday School for Girls in Dallas. This followed in her mother’s footsteps as she had also graduated from Hockaday. Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University after only 3 years in 1955. She was an avid reader, an accomplished china painter with several beautiful pieces to her credit, and she loved playing the piano and organ. She had a love for hymns and sometimes sang along as she played.

While a student at Baylor, Elizabeth met Earl Raymond Taylor. They were married in the Lorena Methodist Church, shortly after her graduation, with their reception at the family home. Ray was a high school teacher and coach for several years. They both taught at Troy and then started their family, eventually having 3 children: Ross, Ruth, & Beth. After moving to Pine Tree, then Hico, and Lake Worth, they ended up in Fort Worth, where they raised their children in the Richland Hills area. Elizabeth loved talking about sports with Ray, and they enjoyed playing tennis together. She was also an active community member as she volunteered for the American Cancer Society for over 25 years. She drove patients to therapy for 15 of those years. She was a board member of the Birdville Unit American Cancer Society and later the McLennan County ACS. She was active in the local PTA, a Girl Scout leader, and enjoyed watching her children’s sporting events and other school activities. When Elizabeth began her grandparenting years, she and Ray traveled to see those grands and thrilled in watching their sporting/school/church/musical events. She treasured each of them and wanted them to know how proud she was of them. She had trusted Jesus as her Saviour and wanted all of her family to do the same so that they would all be with her in heaven one day. She was kind, thoughtful, generous, and witty. She was always willing to be present, to step-up and do her part, and we will dearly miss her!

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her father, John Claude Estes, her mother, Elizabeth Ruth Williams Estes, her brother, John Peeler Estes, her son, Ross Hughes Taylor, her daughter, Ruth Myree Taylor, her aunt and uncle, Peeler and Margie Williams, and 2 of their sons, Peeler Williams III and Brooks Williams.

She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Beth Musgrave and her husband Pat Musgrave; granddaughter, Halley Rae Taylor, grandsons Jordan Patrick Musgrave, and wife Priscilla Tsai, Taylor Nathaniel Musgrave, and Travis Elijah Musgrave. She has 4 great-grandchildren: Loryn Ashley Peachey and husband Nate Peachey, Anthony Raymond Kellum, Cash Rooster Kirkland, and Lucy Elizabeth Musgrave; one great-great grandchild, Benjamin Theodore Kellum; sister-in-law Rosalis Estes; niece Rosanne Zapp, husband Marty and their sons Jack Zapp and Luke Zapp; niece Cris Baldridge and her children Robyn Baldridge Foster and husband Malcolm, Ryan Baldridge and wife Samantha Baldridge; cousins Carol Williams Turner and husband Dave; Shap Williams and wife Leann; Rachel Vajgert and her children Linda, Laura, & Dennis; cousins Mike Pfleger and wife Natalie, Christine Pfleger Dixon, Sandra Pfleger Ohlhauser and several other dear cousins. Pallbearers are Pat Musgrave, Jordan Musgrave, Taylor Musgrave, Travis Musgrave, Ryan Baldridge, and Nate Peachey. Honorary Pallbearers are Shap Williams, Dave Turner, Anthony Kellum, and Cash Kirkland.

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers of Right at Home, Bluebonnet Hospice for all of their hard work, love, dedication and kindness through the last 5 years. She was a long-time patient of Dr. Arthur Sudan and felt that she had great care through all those years. Memorials may be sent to the Lorena Cemetery Association (PO Box 51, Lorena, TX 76655), the Elizabeth Taylor Scholarship at Baylor University, or a charity of your choice.