Posted by: thepinetree on 04/11/2019 01:55 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 04/11/2019 01:55 PM
Expires: 01/01/2024 12:00 AM
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Mary Louise (MacPherson) Taylor September 9, 1921 - April 2, 2019
Rail Road Flat, CA...Mary was born in Copper Lake, Nova Scotia, near Loch Haber and Antigonish, to the late Jessie (Sears) and James MacPherson. She was pre-deceased by brother John William Bernard MacPherson, close cousins John Lawrence, Andy, Herb, George & Neal Sears, step-brother Richard Brine, brother-& sister-in-law Eddie & Jackie Taylor, sister-and brother-in-law Eva & Mark Polz, and beloved husband of over 60 years, Tommy Taylor.
Mary is survived by her step-sister and brother-in-law Sally and Paul Reed, children Pam Taylor, Jim Taylor (Gwen), Susan Garcia (Alex), and Dean Taylor. She was the proud grandmother of Dani Heyward, Stacie Mandaguit, Mikki Koepp, Zach Taylor (Tonya), Samantha Good, Devin Hogue (Daniel) and Thomas Taylor; great grandmother to Brienna Crimmins, Lexie Heyward, Marlie Mandaguit, Jordan, Felicity and Savannah Taylor, Keelie, Laney and Aaron Koepp, Cayden, Zoe and Laila Good, Madalyn, Everett and Lucy Hogue; and great-great grandmother to Aaman Barron III and Soren Loyd.
After her father died Mary immigrated to the US with her mother and brother to live with her uncle, the late Judge Tom Sears (Lollie), and his family in Rail Road Flat. Mary attended Eureka School in Rail Road, where she met Tommy in the 1st grade. She graduated from Holy Names H. S. (’38) and College of the Holy Names (‘42) in Oakland. During WWII she volunteered giving USO dances for servicemen. She taught school and married Tommy in St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Oakland February 24, 1945. Their reception in Rail Road lasted until 4AM the next morning. The next year they returned to Rail Road Flat to begin Tommy’s career as a logging contractor & Mary’s career as a full-time wife, mother, domestic goddess, chauffeur, bookkeeper, parts & tires runner.
The growing family spent most of the school year in Stockton so her kids could go to Catholic school, then back up to Rail Road when school was out. A common sight Monday mornings was to see Mary, car full of kids, flying down Alabama Hill on the way to Stockton to drop them at St. Agnes and then Annunciation. They lived in Sonora from 1962 – 1969 when Tommy followed the mill to Tuolumne county, and where they made friendships that lasted the rest of their lives. The next 5 years found Tommy & Mary in Redding and Little Valley, after which Tommy retired from logging and they returned home to Rail Road with more lasting friendships. They donated to the community the use of the property that was known as Taylor Park in Rail Road Flat.
In retirement, Tommy became a county supervisor and Mary was active in the Rail Road Flat Community Club and Taylor Park fundraisers, and volunteered at Rail Road Flat Elementary and Our Lady of Fatima in West Point. She played piano beautifully, golfed, and enjoyed Bingo and cards, especially bridge, pedro and blackjack. She also loved her Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders. Mary’s biggest joy in life was her family - her husband and kids always came first. Her strong Catholic faith and education were evident in the positive, cheerful, loving, gracious and beautiful lady we knew and loved.
Services will be at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 162 Church Hill, San Andreas on Monday April 15. Rosary 9:30am, Funeral Mass 10:00am, followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon at the church hall. Private family burial at Independence Cemetery in Rail Road Flat. In lieu of flowers, Mary would be honored by donations to: Friends Of Rail Road Flat School, c/o Calaveras Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1436, Angels Camp CA 95222; or Friends of the Calaveras County Library, P. O. Box 1552, San Andreas CA 95249.
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