Mary Ann “M.A.” Taylor York, 74, of Seneca, Kansas, died Friday morning, January 23, 2009 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln, NE, after waging a long and valiant battle for life, following a devastating car accident last year.

M.A. was born the only child of D. Edward “Ed” & Enid Fleming Taylor on September 4, 1934 at Sabetha Hospital. She grew up in Seneca and graduated from Seneca Public High School, then attended the University of Kansas where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1957. At KU she belonged to the Sigma Kappa Sorority, and even recently she was still attending annual reunions with her sorority sisters.

After college she worked as a floor nurse for Denver General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. In Denver she met her future husband Velven J. York, who was in the military and stationed there at Lowry Air Force Base. They were married on November 30, 1961 in Bangor, ME.

They moved to Germany in 1963 when Velven was transferred to Hahn Air Force Base, and returned to the States in 1966 to McCord Air Force Base in Tacoma, WA. In 1970 they again went overseas to Alconbury Air Force Base in England. Velven retired from the Air Force in 1972, and they made their home on Roanoke Street in Seneca ever since, passing cold Kansas winters in Florida.

On their return to Seneca, M.A. and Velven managed M.A.’s family business, the Harsh Drug Store on Main Street. The business was operated by three generations of M.A.’s family, featuring cherry Cokes at an old-fashioned soda fountain and coffee every morning for generations of Senecans. M.A.’s father Ed was the pharmacist there for many years. M.A. and Velven sold the business to Larry Leseberg in 1986.

While raising her family M.A. was no longer a working nurse, but she still enjoyed the nursing profession and kept up her registered nurse credentials over the years with numerous continuing education credits.

M.A. was a dynamic, active, and vital member of the Seneca community. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Seneca, and was active in many church related activities such as quilting with the women’s circle, baking numerous dozens of cookies for their annual cookie sale, and organizing the annual salad supper. In addition, she was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Eastern Star. She also belonged to many civic organizations, including the Nemaha County Historical Society, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary of Seneca, the Republican Women’s Club, the GFWC Seneca Woman’s Club, where she was past president, the Friends of the Seneca Library, and a supporter of the Downtown Seneca Impact. She was also a past Den Mother for her sons’ Cub Scout Troop and helped with Seneca Bloodmobile drives.

Despite all her community involvement M.A. always had time to play bridge with her friends. She also enjoyed knitting, baking and was an avid reader. She loved her dogs and was often seen along Roanoke Street taking them for their daily walks. She bowled with a special group of friends for many years, and they attended national bowling tournaments together. M.A. was always ready to help her friends and neighbors.

She is survived by her husband Velven of the home; two sons, Jack York of Spokane, Washington, and Dave York and his wife Rhonda of Pueblo West, Colorado; and two grandchildren, Taylor and Emma York.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her mother, Enid, died on November 18, 1970 and her father, D. Edward “Ed” died on May 25, 1995.

The funeral service will be held at 10 AM Tuesday, January 27, at the United Methodist Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery. Family will meet with friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in M.A.’s memory for the United Methodist Church of Seneca.