Iris Lucille (Taylor) Reynolds, age 80, passed away peacefully Oct. 29, 2020, at her home in the presence of her family. She was born May 7, 1940, in Snyder, Texas, to Horace Alton and Cleda (Henkell) Taylor.
Iris graduated from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas, and worked as a legal secretary until her marriage to Harold Reynolds in 1969. The couple worked together at Harold Reynolds Excavating in Duncanville, Texas.
Iris satisfied her need for speed by racing stock cars and go-karts, and loved riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. She also enjoyed spending time with her horses, Ginger, Pride and Son.
She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and Epsilon Sigma Alpha sororities, and served as president of the Lady Birds Bowling League at Red Bird Lanes in Duncanville for 21 years. A closet full of bowling trophies attests to her skill on the lanes.
Iris and Harold retired in 1992 and moved to Cedar Creek Lake, where they spent time fishing, boating, riding watercraft, hosting friends and family, gardening and raising several pet donkeys on farmland near their lake house. Neighbors knew her as the “Squirrel Lady,” as she rescued and hand-fed abandoned or orphaned squirrels. She kept pecan suppliers in business, feeding 30 to 40 squirrels a day on her deck.
She also was well-known for her cooking. Neighbors were frequent recipients of cookies, pies, candy and whatever else she happened to be making. Her family looked forward to her Thanksgiving dinner, which always included the absolute best dressing and gravy.
While living at the lake, she attended Payne Springs United Methodist Church and became a member in August 2015. In 2016, she moved to Waxahachie, Texas, to be closer to family. After moving to Waxahachie, she attended Ferris Heights United Methodist Church.
She will be remembered for her sense of humor, kindness, quick wit, strong will, and fierce loyalty to and love for her family and friends. Her flair for telling funny stories, usually at her own expense, had people laughing until they cried.
She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her husband, Harold, and her brother, Ronny Taylor, both of whom served their country in the military.
She is survived by her son Kevin Harris (Kathy) of Waxahachie, Texas; granddaughter Alyssa Phillips (Rhyan) of Waxahachie; great-granddaughter Amelia Phillips, of Waxahachie; sister Karen Germany (Brent) of Marble Falls, Texas; sister Mary Wilkins (Henry) of Brownsboro, Texas; sister-in-law Deborah Taylor of Southlake, Texas; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.
Serving as pallbearers are son-in-law Rhyan Phillips, nephews Gary Williamson, Michael Williamson, Jason Taylor and Monny Barron, and great-nephew Cole Barron. The officiant is her great-nephew Reed Barron.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. Funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Grand Prairie, Texas.