June 2, 1936 — February 24, 2025
Sidney Gosnell died Monday, February 24, 2025, at 88 years old in the loving care of the Greenbrier Nursing Home team in Enid. She was born Sidney Firestone in 1936 near Pittsburgh and spent many happy summers and joyous holidays running around the Firestone family farm, which remains in the family to this day, in the beautiful Allegheny mountains of Pennsylvania.
After high school, she started her lifelong civil service career in Washington, D.C., when young ladies were recruited to work in federal offices. She shared a tiny flat with new girlfriends where, each night, they washed clothing in the sink and hung them to dry over the tub. There, in the nation's capital, beautiful Sidney from the North met a handsome Army man from the South named Joseph Taylor. Joe wrote sweet, long love letters to her which she saved, and we were delighted to discover upon her death. Sidney also was a model during her early years. They married and moved to Montgomery, Alabama, home of Maxwell Air Force Base, and raised daughter Melissa Taylor and son Jeffrey Taylor. Their military connection continued as Sidney worked at Maxwell and Joe built a moving & storage company for military families. Sadly, their marriage ended. Starting a new chapter, Sidney met and married Frank Gosnell Jr. who was stationed at Maxwell after Air Force assignments took him around the world. Frank and Sidney transferred to Vance AFB in Enid where he grew up and graduated from OSU. Frank's mother was an infant in a Sooner land run, and the family still owned its land. Sidney and Frank became active in civic, military, and church circles and loved spending time with family and friends over the decades. Sidney adored her PEO sisters, her precious neighbors Betty, Bridget, and Cari, and the fellowship of Enid Emmanuel Church. She loved to laugh - especially during irreverent teasing by her nephew Bryce Firestone and son-in-law Scott Koehler, and with her always entertaining niece Becky Poggi.
Frank died in 2015, and ten years later, Sidney has left us to join him. She also was preceded in death by Joseph, sister Jean (Firestone) Maust Rogers, daughter-in-law Alicia Taylor, wife of Jeffrey, and sister-in-law Janice (Gosnell) Poore. She is survived by sisters Yvonne Millslagle and Sandra (Firestone) Griffith, brother Blaine Firestone, daughter Melissa Taylor, son Jeff Taylor, and sweet step-daughters Cindy, Kathy, and Kimberly Gosnell. She will always be Nana to grandsons Zachary Koehler (Jenny), Daniel Koehler (Lauren), great grandchildren Samuel, Nolan, Maxwell, and Maren Koehler in Cincinnati, and grandsons Brandon and Elliott Taylor in Enid.
A private burial will be held in Enid where Sidney will rest deeply in the beautiful Oklahoma earth, she loves next to her great love, Frank, and daughter-in-law Alicia who was too beautiful and too young to be taken from her two little boys and husband Jeff.
Death reveals the depth of our love for each other and life itself. It asks us to make peace with loss, regret, and pain, and to turn toward the love of those who remain (Steve Leder, The Beauty of What Remains).
In lieu of flowers or donations, we would welcome your cards or letters telling us about a special memory with Sidney. Mail to: Jeff Taylor, 1142 Lisa Lane, Enid, OK 73703.
Per the family's request, a private family graveside will be at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
