Patricia L. Taylor, 87, formerly of Coldwater passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in Lakeland, FL.
A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the Coldwater United Methodist Church with Rev. Julie Elmore officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Sorter Cemetery.
The family was cared for by Dutcher Funeral Home.
Patricia Lola Pearl Taylor was born on March 4, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Aubrey Forest Steepleton and Pearl Leola Steepleton (Nichols). She graduated from Hyde Park High School in February 1952 and completed secretarial studies at Massey Business College, Jacksonville, FL. Upon return to Chicago, Patricia worked as an executive secretary with an insurance firm in the Sears Tower.
On April 10, 1955, she married Mark E. Taylor, at the Lyonsville Congregational Church in LaGrange, Illinois. They lived in Hinsdale, Illinois; Mansfield, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; and Coldwater, Michigan.
During her time in Mansfield, Patricia volunteered with the Jaycees and was a chaperone for the Miss America Pageant. She and her husband also raised and showed boxers with the American Kennel Club. Patricia held various executive secretary positions until they had their children, Marcia and Todd. After they were in high school, she worked as the secretary at First Presbyterian Church, Coldwater, MI. Then in 1987, she and her husband bought Iyopawa Island Golf Course, Iyopawa Island, Coldwater Lake, MI. They owned and operated the course until they sold it in 1996. Her logo design is still used by the course and many of her landscape changes remain today.
Patricia enjoyed decorating, sewing, gardening, fashion, water skiing, snowmobiling, playing the organ, and volunteering. She was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and an avid Band Parent. When they moved to Coldwater, she became an active member of the United Methodist Church and the Rebekah Circle.
She loved to have people around her and everyone was always welcome to stop by for coffee and a chat. In every community that she lived, she had a circle of friends who played cards or Mexican Train and came to her elaborate progressive dinner parties. In later years, she enjoyed swimming, watching old movies, and dancing.
She is survived by her daughter, Marcia E. Taylor and her husband Timothy Provost of Bartow, FL; their children Sara Provost, her daughter, Sophia Coney of Lakeland, FL and James Provost and his wife Debbie (Snow), and their daughter, Kaylee Provost of Lakeland, FL; her granddaughter, Alica Gibson, (Taylor) married to Seth Gibson of Ft Wayne, IN and their children Adalie Smullen, Coelie Smullen, Anistin Smullen, Westin Smullen, and Adler Gibson; her brother, Stephen Steepleton, Waugekon, IL and his children Debbie Steepleton of Waugekon, IL, David Steepleton of Waukegan, IL, and Julie Jasiunas (Steepleton) of Kenosha, WS, and her children Sean and Sara.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Mark E. Taylor on April 8, 1998 and her son, Todd L. Taylor on January 9, 1991.
Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Church 26 Marshall St. Coldwater, MI 49036.
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