Obituary: TAYLOR, IVY

Ivy Taylor1927 ~ 2012A beautiful, kind soul has left this world. Ivy Taylor, loving Wife, Mother, Grandma, Sister-in-law, Aunt & friend passed away September 20, 2012 in Laguna Woods, CA surrounded by her family. Ivy was born March 16, 1927. She spent her early years in the green, rolling hills of Newton-Le-Willows, England. During WWII her step-father invited an American GI home for dinner, his name was Everett Taylor. When he saw Ivy for the first time he said, "If I had known you were this beautiful I would have been here sooner." Ivy slapped him across the face because she thought he was being "fresh". That was the beginning of a beautiful romance that lasted 69 years. The wedding took place on July 11, 1945 in England & soon afterwards Everett was sent back to the U.S. They had to scrimp & save in order to have enough money to bring Ivy to Utah. In April 1946, when she was 19 years old, she left the only home she had known, traveled to London to be in quarantine for 1 week, spent 5 days on the Queen Mary, arrived in New York City where she had to find her way to the train station, spent 4 days on the train traveling across this unknown country, arrived in Salt Lake City finally taking a bus to Santaquin. She was welcomed into the Taylor family with open arms; they settled down in Santaquin & later in Nephi. Ivy worked as a housekeeper, took in laundry & ironing, tended to gardening, cooking & taking care of her 3 little girls who got into their fair share of mischief. The family moved to S.L.C. where both Everett & Ivy got jobs working for Granite School District & stayed with them until retiring. She was loved & well respected by all of her colleagues as well as the students. Often when the family was on a vacation we'd hear someone call out "Mom" & a student or former student would run over to give her a hug. Ivy loved being outside, especially in the mountains where she spent many vacations camping with her family & extended family. She loved to sing & taught the family many old, sometimes crazy songs as we sat around the campfire. She had a wicked sense of humor which made the trips even more fun catching many people off guard. She was an accomplished hunter, fisherwoman & hiker. On hikes she would point out the flora & fauna, often picking wild roots, plants & berries to eat as we hiked. She had a green thumb with beautiful flowers, a full vegetable garden & fruit trees. She made some of the most delicious jams & jellies. She was an expert cook but everyone's favorite treat was her homemade bread. All those who came into their home cherish memories of sitting around the kitchen table talking to Ivy & Everett, stuffing themselves on her hot homemade bread slathered with butter & jam. She treated everyone like family, welcoming them into their home with open arms. She liked to crochet, creating many treasures for her kids & grandkids. Her most cherished activity was dancing. She & Everett would go dancing every Saturday night at Micky's Dance Hall. After it burned down they traveled to American Fork to dance at the Apollo. Dancing is where they met some of their best friends. Even after many of them quit dancing they would get together for camping trips or dinners. She was the perfect Mom & Grandma to her children & grandchildren, giving us unconditional love, creating many beautiful memories, & teaching us life lessons we will always remember. She touched so many lives & will be truly missed. She is survived by her daughters Janet Taylor & Darlene Maes of Laguna Woods, CA, Laura Zumwalt (Wayne) of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren David Beers (Ari), Michael Beers, Troy Taylor, Kim Bock (Ron), Brett Zumwalt (Carol), Russell Zumwalt, Sister Margaret (John) in England, Brother John (Brenda) in England, great & great-great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Shirley Taylor & Helen Taylor, many nephews & nieces, wonderful friend & helper Ron Maes & loving friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved Everett, mother & father Minnie Whittle Talbot & William Whittle, step-father John Talbot, brother & sister-in-law Ron & Doreen Whittle, mother-in-law & father-in-law Nellie & Willy Taylor, & brother's-in-law Henry & Morris Taylor. A celebration of life ceremony for both Ivy & Everett will take place next summer in Utah. An announcement will appear in this paper. "For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and see God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." Ivy & Everett will be dancing forever together.