Obituary: Kaye M. Taylor, 77

Kaye M. Taylor, 77, a resident of Mount Vernon, Washington and former Wrangell resident, passed away at her home on Nov. 1, 2017.

Kaye was born on Feb. 13, 1940 in Beloit, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lester and Darlene (Polglaze) Buckwalter. She was raised and obtained her education in Beloit, graduating from high school with the class of 1958.

Her parents separated when she was a child and her mother later married Harold Kelton, who was a loving step-father.

She worked for Avis Car Rental in Atlanta, Georgia and for the Lighthouse Travel Agency in Boca Raton, Florida.

She met Robin Taylor in Seattle and they were united in marriage in Sedro-Woolley, Washington in 1976. For the next 30 years they made their home in Wrangell and Juneau, Alaska and Kaye worked as an insurance agent and then in Robin’s law office in Wrangell. For many years she was the director of the Mental Health and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program for the State of Alaska. The Taylors returned to the Skagit Valley in 2007.

She loved to entertain and was a phenomenal hostess. She enjoyed traveling, and accompanied Robin on many of his political trips throughout Alaska, and playing the slot machines hoping for the big payout.

She is survived by her husband, Robin, of Mount Vernon; step-son, Robin Taylor and wife Michelle of Bellingham, Washington; step-daughter, Tracy Crowley and husband Robert of Redmond, Washington; step-grandchildren, Anya and Rachel Taylor and Mitchel and Duncan Crowley; step-father, Harold Kelton of Zebulon, North Carolina; step-brothers, John Kelton of Zebulon and Robert Kelton of Miami, Florida and their families; mother-in-law, Jessie Taylor of Sedro-Woolley; sister-in-law, Patricia Churchill of Mount Vernon and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

A Life Celebration service will be held on Wed., Nov. 29, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Wrangell with Pastor Jeanett Covolt officiating. A fellowship will follow at the Wrangell Elks Lodge. Share memories of Kaye and sign the online guest register at http://www.lemleychapel.com.

Memorials in honor of Kaye are suggested to Hospice of the Northwest or do a ‘Pay it Forward’ gesture for someone in her name.