Lorraine Virginia Taylor

Lorraine Virginia Artuso Taylor, a spectacularly bright and brilliant woman, was appropriately born on the Fourth of July, 1927. The daughter of two Italian immigrants, Elizabeth Rose Corsiglia and Anthony Artuso, her parents settled in Santa Barbara, California because Anthony thought it was the most beautiful place along the California coast.

Lorraine was one of three— her brother Alfred, who preceded her in death, and her sister Eleanor Holt, of Fresno. She had great affection for her brother in law, Richard “Dick” Holt, who also preceded her in death.

The Santa Barbara beaches were her favorite places to spend time growing up and she and her siblings thought the Santa Barbara Courthouse, a block from their home on Anacapa, and these gorgeous surroundings were their playgrounds. Lorraine was raised Catholic and attended Santa Barbara

Catholic High (now Bishop Diego High). She enjoyed dating and dancing—the jitterbug was her favorite, and she always was a terrific student as well. After she met Robert Riley Taylor, our father, while they were both students at the University of California, Santa Barbara, her eyes were only on him and they married after graduation, on Feb. 27, 1948. Bob truly was the love of her life and they were devoted to each other until his untimely death at age 74 in 1997.

Lorraine’s teaching career began in San Gabriel, California, and when they moved to Fresno a few years later, she taught as a substitute teacher for the Clovis Unified School District in the 60’s and 70’s. In 1976, she began some of her most rewarding years in education as part of the Clovis West original faculty. She was also the oldest member of the faculty, but was loved and respected by students and teachers alike. She eventually spent the last years of her career as an administrator in the Fresno County Office of Education, developing their then innovative and highly effective “tutor mentoring” program throughout the Clovis District. Eventually she traveled to teach other districts throughout the Central

Valley and United States, how to create and expand their own tutoring programs in their Junior Highs and High Schools.

Lorraine developed many close female friendships after her years without our father, and we highly value how loyal and consistent these friends were in her later years—-sadly, some of them have passed now too. Lorraine prided herself on her ability to whip up a fine meal in a short time-frame, and

always loved entertaining—she was a gracious and glorious hostess at her home. She enjoyed bridge and her clubs, sewing, art and writing classes, and always loved attending the Fresno Philharmonic to watch with pride, as her son played the violin. She cared daily with incredible loyalty and dedication

for her own mother, Elizabeth, in Fresno for many years until Elizabeth’s passing. Lorraine truly felt caring for her mother was a gift and one of her greatest joys in life.

She lived her final 10 years in the Sacramento area, close to her daughter and family. She will be remembered by all during these years as sweet, kind, gentle and gracious. She was very well loved and cared for.

She is survived by her son, Brad Taylor, her daughter Lisa Taylor Clum, and her beloved son-inlaw, Rock B. Clum. Her nieces and nephew all had a special place in her heart, Kathleen Holt Menzies, Sherie, Betsy and Al Artuso. Her grandchildren, Ashley Lorraine Clum, and Brett McGinnis, had the supreme pleasure of knowing their grandmother and great-grandmother, Nona for many years and enjoyed many

treasured excursions, travels and visits with them both. Her two great-grandchildren, Ember and Finn, may not have the remembrance and the joy of knowing and spending precious time with their great grandmother in the same way. Fortunately, Lorraine’s legacy is strong and lasting, and the

many highly valued memories and stories of her life, loves and glorious personality will endure forever in the hearts and voices of those who were privileged to have her in their lives.

She is, without any doubt, living eternally, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, united with her many loving relationships, in Heaven. Lorraine, we will see you again—until then, rejoice!