Obituary of Kathryn Laura Taylor

TAYLOR, Kathryn (Kay) Kathryn (Kay) Taylor, late of St. Thomas, previously of Harrow and the former Colchester South Township, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2016, in her 90th year, after a busy and varied life. Kay was predeceased by Clarke (2008), her husband of 61 years. She is survived by six children, Allen (Mavis Tidd) of Toronto, Arthur (Ann Roy) of Hamilton, Kathleen (Jim Thorsley) of Fingal, ON, Peter of Vancouver, Barry (Patricia Mazier) of Antigonish, NS, Richard (Donna Andronik) of Manotick, ON; three grandchildren, Jennifer Thorsley (Martin Aeschlimann) of Zurich, Switzerland, and Jason and Lisa Thorsley of Fingal; one great-granddaughter Eva Kathryn Aeschlimann; and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her sister Frances Dickerson (Bill) and brother Victor Coursey (Verna) and brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Joyce Coursey. Kay was born October 3, 1926, near Lucan in Biddulph Township, daughter of George and Ivy (Perkin) Coursey. She came to Colchester South in January 1944 fresh out of Normal school to teach at S.S. #4 on the third concession. There she met and married the young farmer and GM worker next door, Clarke Taylor, and left teaching to raise a large family in a home filled with books, encouragement and laughter. Later she returned to the workforce, first to teaching, and then to retraining as a bookkeeper and working at the credit union in Harrow. She loved healthy living and the outdoors. There were camping trips each summer, going as far as the East and West coasts with a carload of kids, and later winter trips south as well, always visiting family along the way. She also loved the endless hours spent on her large and beautiful flower gardens, and was a regular contributor to the annual Horticultural Society sales. She was active in the United Church, and was a member of the O.E.S. (Erie Chapter #19), the Rebekahs (Kingsville Lily Lodge #49) and T.O.P.S. She and Clarke were generous supporters of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Her determined care of Clarke through his battle with Parkinson's allowed him to remain at home until his death in 2008. Deteriorating health finally forced her to move to a retirement home in St. Thomas in 2013. Her last few days were spent in palliative care in St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. The family much appreciates the support and care she received in St. Thomas, first from the staff of Metcalfe Gardens and at the end from the staff at STEGH. A Celebration of Life will be held at Gerald A. Smith Funeral Home, 197 King St. W., Harrow, Saturday August 13th from 2-5 p.m. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has already taken place, and interment will be private. Memorial donations can be made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, 36 Eglington Ave. W., Suite 40, Toronto, ON, M4R 1A1, or to a charity of your choice.