HOUSTON, Texas — Lorine “Dolly” Pearson passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at her home in Houston, Texas, on April 20 — just two weeks shy of her 90th birthday, which was to be marked with a grand celebration.

Born May 8, 1920, in Marlin, Texas, as the middle daughter of Frank Joseph Jurica and Lillie Rose Chernosky, Dolly grew up in Rosenberg, Texas.

At the age of 4, she began to play the piano and her talent was immediately evident. She could play by ear and had the unique ability of perfect pitch.

Dolly attended schools in Rosenberg and Massey Business College in Houston, and then worked for the Fort Bend school district for several years.

In 1942, she married Josiah Preston “J.P.” Taylor III, with whom she had three children: Sheryl Taylor Burton of San Antonio, Texas, Sandra Taylor Cadot of Hancock, and J. Preston Taylor IV of The Woodlands, Texas.

After her children were all in school, she resumed her career as an administrator in the school system, retiring after more than 30 years of service. Then she began a decade of world travel, visiting every continent except Antarctica.

In 1987, she married Bernard (Benny) Pearson and a year later they moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where they enjoyed 10 years of playing tour guide to their many visiting relatives and friends.

In 1997, they returned to Houston to be closer to family as Benny had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He passed away in 2001.

For Dolly, family always came first. Her greatest joy was being with her children — she was always there to nurture, support and cheer them on.

She was also involved with her church family, from teaching Sunday school, playing the piano for worship, and doing volunteer work. Involved in the Presbyterian Church throughout her life, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Houston for 47 years, where she served as an Angel volunteer.

Dolly will always be remembered as the life of the party — cheerful, vivacious, ebullient, and ever-ready for the next adventure.

In addition to her children and their spouses (H. Meade Cadot Jr., of Hancock and Diane F. Taylor of The Woodlands), she is survived by four grandchildren (who served as pallbearers), J. Kenneth Burton Jr., of Austin, Texas, J. Preston Taylor V of Houston, Candice Sheranne Prose of Austin, and Dustin Lee Taylor of The Woodlands, and three great-grandchildren, Alexander Burton, Benjamin Burton and Reagan Taylor.

With longtime family friend the Rev. Carroll L. Pickett officiating, her funeral service was held April 26 at the First Presbyterian Church chapel in Houston, followed by interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery and a reception at her home in Houston.

On May 8, family and friends gathered again at Dolly’s home to celebrate what would have been her 90th birthday.