Barbara Anne Taylor

Barbara Anne Taylor (Gossett) was born in San Diego, California on March 7, 1927. Her father was a navy man and served in World War I. The family moved to Portland when she was a small child and she resided there ever since.

Music was a big part of her life - she started piano lessons at age five. She received a scholarship in voice and piano to St. Mary's Academy. She later transferred to Grant High and graduated from there.

She was awarded the Schubert Cup in 1944 for contributing the most in music in her class. She received a partial music scholarship to Lewis and Clark College and attended there for a little over a year.

Barbara was "presented" in concert at the Portland Art Museum at age 20. She also received "a key to the city of Portland" after winning a voice competition.

She continued to sing in many choral groups and was a charter member of the Portland Symphonic Choir.

Barbara sang in Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir for 50 years. She was active in many church committees and activities, trained as Stephens Minister to administer compassion to others, and was very involved in Companions in Christ.

She began working at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later transferred to Bonneville Power Administration. Met her husband Bert G. Taylor while working for B.P.A. (also a navy man in WWIl) and married him on April 24, 1949. They celebrated 55 years of marriage until Bert's death in 2004.

They had two children, Jeannine (Griffin) in 1952 and Gregory in 1955.

She spent many hours of her life helping others. Besides her church, she volunteered for the Salvation Army, working closely with the White Shield home for a number of years as well as providing service to military families. She also volunteered for Loaves & Fishes for over 20 years, and the American Red Cross, spending many days in the Bloodmobile.

Barbara loved traveling with her husband and their large group of friends. She visited many places in Europe, and really enjoyed Spain, England, Ireland and Australia.. She loved to snorkel at her favorite place in the world - Kona, Hawaii -, and she also snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef.

She loved her family immensely - she doted on granddaughter Colleen (Bowen) and her two great grandsons Jaxson and Hudson.

Barbara passed away on May 24, 2022 of dementia related issues. She had asked that any contributions in her name be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church for use in their community outreach programs. She left this world a better place and she will be greatly missed.