Dorothy Maxine Taylor

As a girl, Dorothy learned to cook at an early age and helped her mom to feed the family and the field hands. She loved doing this for her family and also loved to keep the house neat and clean for them. One day she decided to sterilize everyone’s toothbrushes in boiling water and accidentally melted them! She felt so bad about the results but the family got a big kick out of it.

At the age of twelve Dorothy moved to Palmer Lake to live with her cousins Irene and Harold Caldwell. She worked in the Caldwell’s restaurant, White’s Kitchen, an establishment that was open 24 hours. After working the midnight shift, she would attend school during the day, do her homework afterward, get a little bit of sleep and start all over again.

While working at White’s Kitchen, Dorothy met Milton Taylor. They were married on June 1st, 1946 and settled in on their ranch in Cherry Valley. Dorothy and Milton made their living farming crops and raising livestock . They were blessed with four children: Donna, Gary, Rick and Terry.

In addition to working the farm, keeping the house and raising her children, Dorothy held several jobs. She fed the school children at Cherry Valley Elementary, worked as a housekeeper for the King family and retired from Douglas County School District after several years of managing the kitchen at South Elementary.

Dorothy loved her life in Cherry Valley. She was an active member of Spring Valley Church and the Mountain View Social Club. Dorothy loved to garden, work in her yard, sew, bake and feed and watch the birds. Many a cat received a swift kick for catching one of her birds! Anyone that showed up at Dorothy’s house received a warm welcome, a cup of coffee, delicious baked goods and more than likely left with a jar of delicious homemade jam or jelly. She was a talented seamstress and worked wonders with a crochet needle and yarn. Family members and friends have been blessed with her quilts and afghans over the years.

Dorothy’s greatest joy was her family: Her sisters and brothers, her children and her grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Shirley Taylor, Vi Rutz, Cleo Smith, her brother Marvin Belgum and grandsons Randy Beckman and Tom Taylor.

Dorothy is survived by her brother Kenny Belgum, sisters Joann Lempka, Betty Frank and Phyllis Peterson; her daughter Terry Taylor; her daughter Donna Beckman, her husband Bill and their children LaDonna, Ron and Shawn; her son Gary Taylor and his children Jason Taylor and Julie Bliss; son Rick Taylor, his wife Tammy and their children Randi Taylor, Lori Merritt and Luke Taylor; eight great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 35-40