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Julie Ann Taylor, 59
Julie Ann Taylor was more than simply a wife and a mother. She was a fireball. She was pure energy and would probably want you to know how proud of her Silver Valley hippie roots she was.
She died Aug. 28, 2018, after a long battle with poor health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, never having stopped putting others first. She was 59.
Born March 6, 1959, to Wallace E. Kenyon and Diana Hooper Kenyon, in Kellogg, Idaho, she was the youngest of four children and grew up loving theatre and winning races at Jackass Ski Bowl. Ever the performer, she spent many days and nights reciting lines from her favorite plays and singing their soundtracks. She was at home and at peace in nature, and found God in the rivers, lakes, streams, rocks and mountains of North Idaho.
Julie loved her family unconditionally and despite any challenges she may have faced, her first priority was always her sons and her husband, Bob. They celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on July 9. She spent days ailing and still diligently checked on her kids — inviting them over for lunches and worrying about fixing them grilled cheeses. She refused to rest, always still decorating her home for holidays, because the trinkets and baubles of a special occasion brought her joy and warmth of family.
She taught her children and grandchildren the immense magic that comes from imagination, recited Girl Scout campfire chants with them, ensured there were always spoons, pots and pans available for impromptu drum sessions for her babies, and she once even let her kids eat with just their hands during an Ozarks-style Thanksgiving.
In the 1970s Silver Valley, she was known as “Truly Unruly Julie” or “Crazy K.” The nicknames were appropriate. She lived a life of joy and with the intention that every second would be a party.
Julie’s love shared with Boz was immense. They danced together to favorite rock ‘n’ roll songs in the living room, spent years upon years escaping Coeur d’Alene to pitch a tent at Bumblebee Campground and make up their own band names and album track listings, and simply intertwined with one another in a way you read about in books or see in movies.
She loved to help people, and one of her proudest times was working at North Idaho College Disability Support Services Office, helping ensure disabled students had access to the education they deserved. She had previously worked as a medical records manager and had earned an associate degree as a paralegal and worked in law firms.
Julie is survived by her husband, three children and 11 grandchildren. She leaves behind husband, Robert Taylor; son, Sam and his wife, Kathryn Taylor and their children, Wesley, Asher, Finnegan and Piper of Bozeman, Mont.; son, Mike and his wife, Michelle Taylor and their children, Gwendolyn, Emily, and Evelyn of Post Falls, Idaho; and son, Carl and his wife, Katie Thompson and their four children, Crimson, Haily, Annika and Christopher of Rathdrum. She is also survived by her three siblings, Jeff and wife, Layle Kenyon of Nashville, Tenn., Claudia and husband, Larry Skogen of Coeur d’Alene and Pat Kenyon of Kellogg; her mother-in-law, Maggie Taylor of Post Falls; her siblings-in-law, Ted Taylor, Dianna and husband, Steve Roberts of Gilbert, Ariz., and Paul Taylor and partner Meg Montgomery of Liberty Lake, Wash. She leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, particularly Bridget Laskey Waldvogel, a daughter to her who was there for her through the end.
A brief remembrance and a gigantic party — just as Julie wanted — will be held at 1 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2018, at the Q’emiln Trailhead Event Center, 12361 W. Parkway Drive, Post Falls, Idaho.