Delma Lillian Tayer

Delma Tayer (Ward) was born in 1924 into a pioneer family that migrated from Quebec to Malheur County, Oregon shortly after the Civil War to start a sheep company. In 1947, Delma cane to Yakima to marry Harold Tayer who had been discharged from the U.S. Navy after serving three years in the Pacific Theater.

A son, Stephen, was born in 1950, the day Harold matriculated at Yakima Valley College. After receiving his D.D.S in 1956 from the University of Washington, Dr. Tayer opened his dental practice in Selah, and Delma started commuting to Central Washington University. As a Ford Foundation Scholar, she earned a B.A., two Master’s degrees and required course work for an M.F.A. in Art. In 1963, she accepted the position as Chair of the Division of Languages and Literature at Yakima Valley College. From 1985 until retirement in 1990 she served as Dean of Arts and Science.

Delma had an active academic career. She served at the national level in the formation of the Commission for the Humanities and at the state level was President of the Washington Commission for two terms. She was President for the Two-Year-College English Association, Vice-President of the Northwest English Association and with associates from Evergreen and Washington State Universities initiated the Art Touring Service. In 1974, she agreed to act as Director of Larson Gallery on campus in addition to her other duties, an assignment she assumed until her retirement. She also was invited to jury various major painting and craft exhibitions throughout the state, as well as write an article on art for the Yakima Herald newspaper.

She received numerous honors and awards, among them the Allied Arts Council Award for contributions to excellence in the arts, the YVCC Distinguished Student Award for service and leadership, the John Terrey Award for Lifetime Contributions and Achievement in the Humanities, the YWCA Women of Achievement Award in the Arts, the Washington State Evergreen Award for Public Service presented by Governor Booth Gardner. She was honored in Seattle for her philanthropy, was honored with the Larson Gallery Woman of the Year Award and received the Heather Frank Humanities Award from the Washington Commission for the Humanities. She received many other awards and served on numerous boards and commissions both locally and on the state level.

Upon retirement, she spent many hours in her studio, in her garden and travelling internationally. She also frequently returned to YVC to take classes from former colleagues and was invited to become a member of the Russians Reading Group that enriched her life with intellectual pursuits and good friends.

Her husband, son and brother, Conley, died within a few years of each other in the mid 1980’s. Her sister, Arlene and her mother died in the early 1990’s. She courageously built her life around the love and respect of numerous nieces and nephews and her many friends. A brother, Nels Larsen, survives along with her nieces and nephews.

Delma established the Tayer Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Yakima Valley College Foundation, PO Box 22520, Yakima, WA 98907, and is contributing to its continuation. Donations to that fund may be made in her memory.

The family wants to thank her loving caregivers, Karina, Lorena, Vianca and Lupe who allowed her to stay in her hone as her health declined, which was her desire. At Delma’s request, no service is planned.