Gloria Gladys Taylor

Gloria Gladys Taylor Gloria Gladys Taylor January 14, 1927 - March 3, 2010 KEIZER - Gloria Gladys Taylor, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away on March 3, 2010 at the age of 83. Gloria was born in 1927 in Seaside, Oregon and had many wonderful and interesting stories about growing up at the Oregon Coast. Her parents owned and operated a seafood store in Seaside and it was there that she developed her life-long love of seafood. In 1947 she met and married her first husband, Homer Ballard. They had one son and one daughter. She was a stay-at-home mom and very involved in her children's lives and, among other things, active as a den mother in boy scouts and campfire girls. After the death of Homer in 1969, she moved to Salem and began a career working for the State of Oregon. Gloria initially worked in a program to help ex-convicts rehabilitate and relocate back into regular life and later as an employment counselor. During this time she met her current husband, Virgil Taylor and they married in 1973. Gloria and Virgil were long time residents of Salemtowne until about a year and a half ago when they moved to Emerald Point, a retirement community in Keizer. Throughout Gloria's life she was an avid and skillful bridge player. She also enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. Her real passion, however, was her family and she was always happiest when she was with them. Gloria was never shy about stating an opinion or giving advice, but her biggest legacy is the tremendous courage, grace and humor she showed in the face of crippling pain and, in more recent years, declining health. Gloria often credited her step-daughter, Penney for being her inspiration in the power of a positive attitude. Gloria is survived by her husband, Virgil; son, Bob Ballard (daughter-in-law Susan); daughter, Christine Jordan (son-in-law Jerry); step-son Gary Taylor (daughter-in-law Deb); and step-daughter Penney Gillaspy. In addition Gloria is survived by 7 grandchildren, Claire and Sarah Denoyo, Paul and Nick Gillaspy (wife Juliette and step-daughter Jade), Kelli and Christopher Taylor and Eddie Kirasich. Gloria is also survived by her niece, Doneen Gayle. A Celebration of Life service will take place at Emerald Point, 1125 McGee Court NE, Keizer, Ore. on March 11 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.