Catherine Marie Taylor

This obituary is placed here as a service to our community. The information was obtained from public records rather than from the family directly.

Catherine MArie Taylor, age 87, of Athena and formerly of La Grande and Union, died December 11, 2003 at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. The funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Athena Baptist Church with Pastor John Nichols officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Taylor was born on September 7, 1916, in Ironside to Gordon R. and Gertrude Toombs Dickson. She was raised on her father's ranch and attended grades one through ten at the one-room schoolhouse in Ironside.

She graduated from Ontario High School in 1934 and on October 4 of the same year she married Kennett Preston Taylor in Vale. The couple lived in Halfway, Richland, Union and La Grande where she worked at the Sacajawea Hotel as a cook.

She worked there during the filming of "Pillars in the Sky" and had opportunities to prepare special dishes for the stars staying in the hotel.

After her husband's death she moved to Athena in 1992.

In La Grande she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Order of Eastern Star and several bridge clubs. She was known for her culinary skills and for needlework, crocheting and crafts.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Elvin and Waunita Taylor of Athena; a daughter-in-law, Marlene Taylor of Astoria; five sisters, Dorothy McNulty of Ontario, Ella Mae Armstrong of Boise, Helen Reed of Nampa, Idaho, Hazel Williams of Bend and Norma Jean Smurthwaite of Tigard; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and other relatives. A son, Gordon Taylor, her brothers, Paul and John Dickson; a sister, Darlene and a great granddaughter, Alesha Griggs, all died earlier.

Memorial may be made to the Athena Baptist Church.