The death of a 32-year-old Dallas woman has area musicians tuning their instruments in preparation for a memorial concert this weekend to benefit her family.
Virginia “Kaye” Taylor, who died early July 1 after a four-vehicle accident on Interstate 35E near Lake Lewisville, was raised in Sanger and worked in Frisco at the corporate offices of Thousand Trails, a company that provides recreational vehicle vacations.
“She brightened up every room that she walked into,” said Heather Miata, a close friend. “She was just a genuine person, sweet and loving and caring and kind – everything you would want a friend to be.”
She and her boyfriend Jaysen Stricklin, whom friends described as an “old married couple,” were regulars at The RockHouse Grille. They connected with the music scene by helping out with large events, said Mr. Stricklin, who worked security there.
RockFest 2008 will begin at noon Saturday at The RockHouse Grille in Addison. Dallas-area bands, including Miser and The Opus Flux, will be featured.
“They were happy to play, it wasn’t even a question,” said Mr. Stricklin. “We had 14 bands booked in two and a half days. I don’t even know how to thank everybody.”
The two met at the restaurant and had been together for about a year and a half when Mr. Stricklin heard the news while attending a wedding in Canada.
“It’s been brutal,” Mr. Stricklin said. “I spoke to her about an hour before she passed away and she left me a voicemail like five minutes before she died. I can’t even explain that.”
He described her as friendly and sweet, with a nice giggle and beautiful smile. “She was my girl, that’s for sure,” he said.
Donations have come from all over, including three Dallas rock stations. A silent auction and raffles will offer everything from a big-screen TV to a $200 tattoo voucher and 40-person wine tasting.
All proceeds will benefit the Taylor family to help recover funeral costs and other expenses.
RockFest 2008
What: Memorial concert for Virginia “Kaye” Taylor. Dallas-area bands, including Miser and The Opus Flux, will be featured.
When: Noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday
Where: The RockHouse Grille, 4060 Beltline Road, Addison.
Tickets: $10 for ages 21 and older, and $15 for ages 18 to 20.
