Mary Evonne Taylor

Evonne Taylor, 77 years old, passed away August 12, 2017. She was born at the Norfolk Naval Hospital in 1939 and graduated from Hollidaysburg High School in Pennsylvania. Evonne earned her nursing degree at the Jefferson School of Nursing in Philadelphia and her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at the University of Texas-El Paso. Evonne worked at Thomason Hospital for over thirty years, retiring as Chief Nursing Officer. Her vision for quality nursing care permeated her work at Thomason as she instituted many quality control measures and fought for nursing to achieve the status and pay that professional nurses deserved. Evonne received advanced certification in Nursing Administration from the American Nurses Association in 1988, the Texas Nurses Association Nurse of the Year Award in 1991, the Gold Nugget Award from UTEP in 1993, and the Reach Award for the Executive Category in 1996. Her professional memberships included District 1, Texas Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Executive Council of Nursing Directors. She was the first hospital administrator in El Paso to provide funds for nurses to continue their education. She worked hard on achieving high accreditations for nursing at Thomason and worked to establish it as a magnet hospital. She did all she could to encourage professionalism among her staff. A true leader in blending nursing practice and education. Evonne was a world traveler, traveling to every continent with her friends. She loved all that the City of El Paso had to offer. She was a staunch supporter of UTEP and enjoyed attending Miner football and basketball games, theater and music productions. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Mary Farris and her infant son, Christopher. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Daryl and John Balod, son and daughter-in-law Thomas and Karin Taylor, by grandchildren Zachary Balod, Mitchell Balod (Kendra), McKenna Taylor and Andrew Balod. Evonne was a cherished daughter, mother, grandmother, niece, cousin, sister-in-law, godmother and friend. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Mary Evonne Taylor - to the Taylor-Corona Nursing Leadership Award, UTEP Development Office, Kelly Hall, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968 Visitation will be held from 6:00pm-9:00 pm, with a Rosary at 7:00 pm on Friday, August 18, 2017 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 10000 Pheasant Road. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit our online registry book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.