Donna Taylor

Donna was born on 12/22/1938 in Long Beach California and died 6/20/2024 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She grew up in Dominguez, California with two older brothers. Growing up with parents that owned a flower shop she worked with them every Saturday, and two mornings a week at 4:00am to go to Los Angeles to get other supplies for the flower shop.

Donna attended Dominguez Elementary, Wilmington Jr High and Banning High School. She met the love of her life at Banning High School, 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 worked at Beacon’s Van and Storage in Wilmington as a switchboard operator.

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 in 2022.

They settled in Wilmington California and started a family, raising three amazing daughters: Kathy (Fremgen), Debbie (Haley) and Barb (Patton). They moved to Lakewood, California 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-laws: Alan Fremgen, Tim Haley & Mark Patton. Over the next 15 years, they welcomed 10 grandchildren: Laura, Brad, Montana, Danny, Bryan, Marquel, Sarah, Matt, McCoy, and Mallory.

In July of 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 made their family a top priority by attending many ball games, 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, Gemma and were looking forward to the arrival of Jaxon in September 2024. Jack & 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, and brothers; Ed Green and Earl Green; son-inlaw, Tim Haley. Donna is survived by her daughters and their families: Kathy (Alan) Fremgen, Coeur d’Alene, ID; Debbie Haley, Long Beach, CA, Barb (Mark) Patton of Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Funeral Services will be held at St Pius Catholic Church on Friday, July 5, 2024 for a rosary at 9:30am followed by mass at 10:00am.  Reception immediately following in the church hall. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations made to the 3C's (cancer charities) or Hospice of Northern Idaho.