Hope Jackson Bartlett Jones Taylor, 95, passed away at her home in Fries on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Bom on August 12,1924 and raised in the Old Town Community, she had worked in the Fries Mill, the local drug store and as a bookkeeper. She also worked many years as the Town Clerk for Fries. She was an author, poet, genealogist and loved local history. She wrote a book, "The Bartlett Tree and Thee" and numerous poems and stories about the region. Hope loved her local community and her neighborhood overlooking the New River. Her home was a place of welcome for all. She was proud of her large extended family. She came to faith in Christ as a young girl at the Old Town Presbyterian Church and memorized the entire shorter catechism as a child. She later became a member of the Fries United Methodist Church. In her last years she benefited from the support of so many kind and loving people, especially her beloved daily caregiver Teresa Kincer.

Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her parents L. Bert and Jennie McKenzie Bartlett; her husband Squire O. Taylor; brothers Herman (Plina) and Ralph (Virginia) and a sister Helen B. (Homer) Jones; a daughter-in-law Phylis W. Taylor and a granddaughter Mary Jo Taylor Pittman.

She is survived by three sons, B. Eugene Taylor of Annandale, VA; Edwin G. Taylor (Yvonne) of Springfield, VA and Rev. Kenneth Taylor (Sharon) of Norton, VA; a daughter, Patricia Jones Houston (John) of Midlothian, VA and a brother Rev. Ted Bartlett (Tootsie) of Galax, VA.

Also surviving are 10 grandchildren Alison Wright (Dennis), Annandale, VA; Tim Taylor (Sandy) Pensacola, FL; Mary Taylor Della Peruto (Greg),Bristow, VA; Thomas J. Taylor (Joy), Montclair, VA; John Paul Houston (Lorraine),Floyd, VA; Julie Houston Osborne (Charles P.), Louisville, KY; Jennifer Houston Smith (Sean S.), Midlothian, VA; James Houston (Maria), Bethesda, MD; Andrew Taylor (Kristal Parada), Omaha, NE; Rebecca Taylor, Big Stone Gap, VA; 23 great grandchildren: Jessica Wright, Harrisonburg, VA; Danny Wright, Annandale, VA; Mina K. Corbett (Thomas) Raleigh, NC; Ryan Della Peruto, Bristow, VA; Christopher Taylor, Blacksburg, VA; Ann H. Maren (David), Check, VA; John W Houston, Floyd, VA; Cora H. Pressley (Bryan), Indian Valley, VA; Mary Houston, Floyd, VA; Thomas P. Houston, Floyd, VA; Catherine Houston, Floyd, VA; Henry Houston, Floyd, VA; Samuel Houston, Floyd, VA; Emily Winters, Louisville, VA; Jessica B. Gautney (Andrew). Powhatan, VA; Kelly B. Ferrell (Tyler), Chesterfield, VA; Shane Smith, Midlothian, VA; Kaitlyn Houston, Radford, VA; Thomas J. Houston, Bethesda, MD; Alejandro A. Houston, Bethesda, MD; Megan Pittman, Tyler, TX; Nolan Wyatt, Big Stone Gap, VA; Fourteen Great-Great Grandchildren: Ruby Maren, Anna Claire Maren, Libby Maren all of Check, VA; Grace Pressley, Emmaus Pressley, Lilliana Pressley and Annika Pressley, all of Indian Valley, VA; Gabriel Gautney, Peter Gautney, Simon Gautney, all of Powhatan, VA; Jonathan Gautney of Charlottesville, VA; Moyra Gautney of Powhatan, VA; LilliAnn Ferrell and Ezekiel Ferrell both of Chesterfield, VA; several nieces and nephews also survive.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3:00 PM in the Fries United Methodist Church with Rev. Lee Thomas; Rev. Ted Bartlett and Rev. Kenneth Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in the McKenzie Cemetery. The family will receive friend from 1:00 PM until service time at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fries United Methodist Church, 629 Church Street, Fries, VA 24330 or the Fries Rescue Squad, P O Box 9, Fries, VA   24330.