Etta B. Taylor, 92
Etta B. Taylor passed away peacefully with family members at her side, on December 14, 2019 in Sandpoint, Idaho at the age of 92, after a brief illness. She was born March 30, 1927 in Greenwood Springs, MS. Etta was the only child of Thomas Andrew Winsett and Maudie Mae (Horton/Haney) Winsett. Etta’s parents met and married later in life, 1925, after their first spouses had passed. She had six half-siblings from her parent’s blended family. She grew up in Memphis, TN and following her high school graduation, moved to San Francisco with her best friend. They moved to San Francisco to work in the military manufacturing plants during WWII and after the end of the war they started a little diner together. It was here that she met her husband of 66 years, Raymond Dean Taylor. They were married in Santa Fe, NM on August 3, 1947.
During their time in NM, their family grew to include their first three children; Carol Elizabeth, Linda Dean, and Joseph Sterling. In 1966 the family moved to Thailand where Raymond worked for Engineering Consultants Inc completing soil profiles of northern Thailand for a massive irrigation project. The family returned to Las Cruces, NM briefly in 1968 before moving to Dunster, British Columbia where they owned and operated a large ranch on the Fraser River for the next eight years where she worked hard alongside Ray. It was here that much to her surprise she became pregnant and delivered beautiful healthy identical twin daughters, Rebecca Diane and Marilyn Deane, at the age of 42.
They made many wonderful friends in British Columbia and in 1976, on a road trip to visit one of these friends who had moved to Kootenai, they fell in love with Northern Idaho. Later that same year, they sold their ranch in Canada and moved to Clark Fork, ID where Etta and her husband Raymond have lived ever since. As was her custom, she quickly became an active member of her community through involvement with the local PTA, school booster club, girl scouts, Homemakers Club and served as a local election polling official. She also played an instrumental role in the community fundraising efforts to establish the Clark Fork Valley Ambulance Service, where she was one of the primary organizers and cooks of the numerous fundraising dinners. Soon after moving to Clark Fork, she began working at the Mercantile where she soon became known for her friendly smile and warm personality. When Clark Fork’s centerpiece, the Mercantile, eventually closed its doors, she began working at the Monarch Market where she worked by choice, not necessity, until age 77 because she loved visiting and interacting with both locals and visitors. She knew everyone in town and all the happenings that went on in the area.
Etta was a sweet southern lady to the core. You couldn’t step into her house without being offered a snack, meal or drink about ten times before you left. She never raised her voice or swore, and she would never intentionally offend anyone. She had many quirky phrases and “words of advice” said in a soft humble manner. She had a sharp memory and we learned over the years not to question her recollection of events, because she always proved us wrong. She valued relationships and friendships above all else. She tried hard to take care of everyone and was always the family peacemaker. She could charm anyone with her southern nature, and she knew it. She was a true life-partner with her husband, always working together toward their life dreams and goals which has resulted in a truly great life with many successes. She was a true example of grace. We loved her so much and miss her dearly. We are fortunate to have been blessed with such a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
Etta was preceded in death by her husband Raymond who passed away in March 2014. Etta is survived by five children, Carol Boyd, Linda Bangerter (Vern), Joseph Taylor (Saundra), Rebecca Goy (Brett), and Marilyn Gould (Michael); 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, with viewing at 9:00 am, on Saturday December 21, 2019 at the Clark Fork LDS Church. Burial will be held at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial donations be sent to the Clark Fork Valley Volunteer Ambulance Service, 111 E. 2nd St, Clark Fork, ID 83811.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Etta’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.