Donna Mary Taylor

Donna Mary Taylor was born on October 16, 1927, in Portland, Oregon, to William Donald Hawes and Anna Mary (nee Schmidt). Her Irish and English father, Don, worked in a grocery, until he saved enough money to fulfil his dream of owning his own hardware store on N.E. Fremont. Her German Russian mother, Mary, worked in the home and helped Don with the store. Donna had a younger sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Jim, whom she loved and kept in contact with, throughout her life. They shared holidays, vacations, and important life milestones, every year.

Donna attended Beaumont Grade School, where she fell in love with spelling,

becoming one of the top spelling bee contestants. Her family spent summer vacations at Seaside, Oregon. Donna loved the beach so much, her classmates dubbed her the ‘Seaside Kid’.

Attending Commerce High School, she honed her secretarial skills, becoming an excellent typist. She enjoyed new friendships with Justine, Millie, and Lou Ellen, and the group remained in touch throughout their lives. Donna also enjoyed corresponding with friends and relatives, with her gracious and flowing

penmanship. Upon graduation, Donna used her office skills at the paper company of Carter & Rice Co. in northwest Portland. There she met a handsome paper salesman, Al Taylor. They began meeting for lunch. They often traded fruits their mom’s packed for them. She brought a banana, and he an apple. They enjoyed joining her family for week-ends at Seaside. Notable was the time, they rented a two-seater bicycle. With Donna in front, and Al on the back, they pedaled down the beach, past her dad. Don burst out laughing as they whizzed by. Donna wondered what was so funny, only to learn, that Al had lifted his feet off the pedals, letting her do all the work as they cruised by her dad.

They married April 18, 1948, in the home of Donna’s parents. As a couple they joined the Lutheran Church, and remained members the rest of their lives. They quickly started a family. Linda was born in 1949, and Cynthia in 1951. Donna was a caring mom, tending the girls through childhood illnesses, school challenges, and often, to her daughter’s chagrin, dressing them in identical outfits!

Donna had a flair for creating a pleasing and inviting home. She used her talents to create unique and color coordinated home décor. She also started a family poetry reading evening. Each one selecting a special poem to read aloud to the others. Donna enjoyed playing bridge, and was good at the game. She played for charities, several women’s groups, and couples’ groups with Al. Sharing their love of the outdoors, Donna and Al went on many family camping trips, exploring and connecting with the Pacific Northwest.

When the girls grew older, Donna became a Portland Public School Secretary for 15 years. She worked at a number of different grade schools throughout the city, where she used her well-honed secretarial skills, and made new friends.

After both of them retired, they built a home in Gresham and began to travel. They visited much of the United States and Europe. Then as snow birds, they spent winter months in Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii and Mexico. Donna displayed her experienced cooking skills nightly. Al’s trip notes often include raves about her new recipes and tasty dinners. They continued to follow their shared love of the outdoors, nature, and in particular bird watching. They traveled many miles to sit behind large rocks, to watch the mating dances of local birds. They kept detailed notes on the variety and locations, of each bird they cited.

After Al passed in 2008, Donna maintained their home, gardened, played bridge, and took week-end trips with Linda and Cynthia. Visiting Ashland and Seaside, where the sandy beaches and ocean waves still filled her heart. Up to the very end of her life, Donna maintained a sweet, gentle humor, a fierce independence, and an undying loyalty and love, for her lifelong partner husband Al.

Donna is deeply loved, and greatly missed.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Taylor family.