CAROLE JEAN DeSOTO TAYLOR ~ Class of 1962
February 4, 1944 - August 11, 2008



Carole Jean DeSoto Taylor, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away peacefully at her home in Townsend, Montana, on Aug 11, 2008, at the age of 64.

Carole was preceded in death by her father, Jem DeSoto; mother, Ura Oreita (Smith) DeSoto; brother, Richard Louis; granddaughter, Larissa Mary Louise Lawson; and aunt, Betty Jean (Smith) Carraway.

Carole was born Feb 4, 1944, in Portland Oregon. She was the oldest daughter and middle child of seven. After years of traveling with her family, they settled in West Richland, WA, where she grew up. She attended school in Richland and graduated from Columbia High School in 1962. After graduation, she went right into the work force. She married her first husband and gave birth to five wonderful children.

In 1974, she went to work in the Hanford area, as the first female power operator until 1990, when she then held the position as a planner and scheduler for vent/ balance until 1995.

During this time she met and married her current husband and best friend, Luther J. Taylor on Aug. 21, 1975, in Richland and raised their family. Carole took an early retirement from the Hanford Area and went to work at Target where she retired as an associate.

In 2004, they moved to Townsend, Montana, where she started work with LAIDLAW as a bus attendant.

Carole was well-known (some might say famous) with her family, friends and co-workers for her sewing and cooking skills. She could sew anything from new clothes, repairs to jackets with ripped sleeves, as well as quilt making. Her cooking abilities included canning, making jams and jelly, as well as making the best cream pies, which she became well known for. She was well known for her collection of Angels.

In 2001, she began volunteering at The Salvation Army in Pasco, WA, where she was presented the Volunteer of the Year plaque before moving to Montana.

Upon moving to Montana she continued her volunteering in many different ways including cooking for a group of Helena's at-risk boys and girls (Lesson and Loaves) at the First Presbyterian Church.

Carole is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 33 years, Luke.

Her children are Luci (Dwight) Brett and Bob (Sue) Taylor; Jackie Mayo (Bobby Boyd); Matt (Kamie) Mahoney; John Mahoney (Josie Vuong); Colleen (Ken) Miller; and Donna (Frank) Garza.

Her siblings are Jim ('58), Dave, Jack ('65), Bob (Robbie) ('67) and Marie ('68) DeSoto.

Her grandchildren are Nichole and Andrew Mayo; Chloe and Riley Mahoney, Jordan and Gage Allen, Paige Miller; Cassandra and Frankie Garza; Laycee (Chris) Weier and Lane Lawson (Amanda Carr); stepgrandchildren, Travis Brett (Caroline Monk); and Tyler (Gabriella) Brett; and stepgreat-grandchildren are Kasia, Kenna, Kyler, Kade Daniel, and Joshua Brett; Rachelle, Lilly, and Alley Brett.

Carole was the life line to her family and friends and she will be missed by all, but never forgotten. She'll be one of the Angels in the sky watching over all of us forever.

A memorial service celebrating Carole's life will be held at the Richland First Church of The Nazarene located at 2500 Jericho Road, Richland, WA. 99352, Saturday, August 23, 2008, at 3 p.m. with a reception to be held directly following at the home of Colleen and Ken Miller located at 2903 S. Highlands Blvd., West Richland, WA 99353.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pasco Salvation Army, P.O. Box 510, Pasco, WA 99301.

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