Donna Taylor, 85

Donna was born Dec. 22, 1938, in Long Beach, Calif., and died June 20, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

She grew up in Dominguez, Calif., with two older brothers. Her parents owned a flower shop, so she worked with them every Saturday and two mornings a week at 4 a.m. to go to Los Angeles to get other supplies for the flower shop.

Donna attended Dominguez Elementary, Wilmington Jr High and Banning High School. At Banning High School, she met the love of her life, Jack Taylor, and they dated for six years. After high school, she rode the “red car” to Los Angeles for her job at Dunn & Bradstreet as a Dictaphone operator. Jack was in boot camp at Fort Ord and would come home on the weekends so they could attend the drag races for the Merriman Car Club.

Donna also worked for the Long Beach Federal Bank in downtown Long Beach and then as a switchboard operator at Beacon’s Van and Storage in Wilmington. Jack was drafted and sent to Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Upon his return from the Army, they were married in August 1960 and were married for 62 years before Jack passed away in 2022.

They settled in Wilmington, Calif., and started a family, raising three amazing daughters: Kathy (Fremgen), Debbie (Haley) and Barb (Patton). They moved to Lakewood, Calif., in 1969 and bought their first home. Donna was often the team mom, coach or Girl Scout leader for the girls over the years. They made many lifelong friends by being active in their daughter’s lives. Donna stayed home until going to work for Long Beach Unified School District, first as a volunteer in 1973 and then as a full-time employee by 1975, working 16 years for the school district.

As the girls married, they welcomed three wonderful sons-in-law: Alan Fremgen, Tim Haley and Mark Patton. Over the next 15 years, they welcomed 10 grandchildren: Laura, Brad, Montana, Danny, Bryan, Marquel, Sarah, Matt, McCoy and Mallory.

In July 1992, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to begin the retirement phase of their lives together. They spent many years traveling with a motor home group, Newmar Kountry Klub and served as directors for five years. They attended many Newmar Kountry Klub rallies around the United States and made many more lifelong friends.

Donna & Jack always prioritized their family by attending many ball games and activities, including every high school, college graduation, and milestone event in their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s lives. Their home was the gathering place for holidays, summer vacations and Sunday dinners for the cousins to spend time together. Beginning in 2020, they began to welcome great-grandchildren Charlie, Rae, Walker, Justin and Gemma and were looking forward to the arrival of Jaxon in September 2024. Jack and Donna always said putting their family first left them with “no regrets.” They had a wonderful life together.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Taylor, her parents, Ruelma and Earl Green, brothers Ed Green and Earl Green and son-in-law Tim Haley. She is survived by her daughters and their families: Kathy (Alan) Fremgen, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Debbie Haley, Long Beach, Calif.; and Barb (Mark) Patton, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

A Rosary for Donna will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene on July 5 at 9:30 a.m., with mass to follow at 10 a.m. To engage in Donna's online tribute, please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com.