Margaret Taylor, owner of the Book Corner in Bloomington, Ind., died March 11. She was 79. A native of the city, Taylor was the daughter of the late James and Barbara (Groves) Spannuth. She grew up with the Spannuth family business--the Book Corner--and worked the cash register as a child.
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| Margaret Taylor | |
Thirty years ago, Taylor took over the reins full-time. Her obituary noted that "until very recently, she often worked seven days a week. Margaret delighted in her customers. She found joy in helping them find just the right book or by providing an extra personal touch. Margaret thought of her employees as friends, and even as extended family. When she took trips, Margaret would always find something to take back and share with them."
In a Facebook post, the Book Corner wrote that Taylor "leaves a strong legacy to Bloomington community as the owner of Book Corner, an iconic fixture on the square. The staff of Book Corner will miss her presence. She was always in her office 7 days a week working tirelessly to give this town great shopping opportunities for books, puzzles, cards, and children's toys."
A tribute posted in the Electron Pencil noted: "How odd it will be to walk into the Book Corner and find Margaret Taylor's chair empty.... We knew it was coming but that didn't make it any easier. We, who sold books and tchotchkes at the Book Corner for all these years, could spend long minutes grousing and carping, moaning and shaking our heads over the owner of the place, but we knew when this day would come we'd cry like babies.
"And we did. Margaret was as strong as an ox and stubborn as a mule. When men possess those qualities, we laud them to the skies. Women, not so much. I'm going to flip that inequity on its head: I called her 'Boss' and, when feeling chipper, 'Boss-arino.' She loved that. She was the boss. And a friend."