Carol Mae Taylor

Carol Mae Taylor was born May 7, 1929, in Racine, Wisconsin. Carol was born to parents Harry and Ruth Charlton. She was the second of four children. She had an older sister, Betty, younger sister, Donna, and younger brother, Bill.

Carol talked often about her childhood in Racine. Most of her stories were about family gatherings – especially at the holidays – and the bitter cold winters. One of her favorite stories combined both as she described walking to her grandmother’s house in a frigid snowstorm for Christmas because it was too cold and snowy for her dad’s car. Because of the size of the family – she would describe the family having to eat in shifts.

Years later, her sister, Betty was married and during her honeymoon, their car broke down in the Lakewood area. Betty took a job as a waitress at the famous Taylor’s Supper Club. The owner, Margaret Taylor, took pity on the young couple and let them stay in her house. Betty contracted Scarlet Fever and needed help. Carol took a train from Wisconsin to help her older sister. While Carol was here – she loved the area and the milder weather. Betty and her husband moved to their own place, and Carol continued to stay with Margaret Taylor. Carol found a job at a large bank in downtown Denver; she stayed in Margaret’s son, Wayne’s, room. Wayne was away in the Army in Japan at the time.

When Wayne’s Army tour was complete, he came home and he was pleasantly surprised by the pretty young woman his mom had rented his room to. Carol moved to Downtown Denver, but she took his heart with her. The two started dating and started a love affair that lasted their entire lives. They married on June 17, 1948, and moved into the basement of Wayne's mother’s house. Carol’s parents’, Harry and Ruth, also fell in love with the area. They moved from Racine to just a block away from Carol and Wayne.

Carol gave birth to a son, Terry Taylor, in 1952, while still living in her mother-in-law’s home. The small house was feeling even smaller. Carol and Wayne bought property in Lakewood and Wayne, who was moonlighting as a home builder, built Carol a proper home. If he had a construction problem, he would visit a construction site at night to see how things should work. He would then copy what he saw in his own house.

Wayne and Carol continued to live in that house for the rest of their lives. In 1959, Wayne and Carol had a daughter, Linda. Carol supported Wayne as he started a gas station and worked with Wayne when he started a rental business, Taylor’s Rental Center. Taylor’s Rental Center has the distinction of holding business License #1 in Lakewood, Colorado. Wayne and Carol happily raised their family and were noted members of the community.

Terry recalls a fishing trip with the family. The banks of the lake were full of fishermen, fish were jumping, but no one was catching anything. Wayne was struggling with a new rod and reel. On his first cast the reel came off the rod and flew to the center of the lake. Dejected, he gave up and headed back to camp. Carol loudly announced – “fish is ready”. Everyone at the lake looked astonished… When did they catch fish? – no one could recall seeing anyone catch anything all day. Carol just smiled… she had secretly brought a can of salmon to the lake.

Both Children married - Terry to Peggy Stanley and Linda to Allen Stetson. They were blessed with four grandsons: Bryan and Kevin to Terry and Peggy, and David and Shawn to Linda and Allen. Holiday gatherings were always at “Mee-maw and Grandpa’s house". Carol was always happiest when she was hosting a party.

In 2003, Carol sadly lost her husband Wayne. She continued to live in the house built for her by her husband. Gatherings were still at Mee-maws. She went on a vacation with Linda and Allen to Hawaii and to Boston. During the Boston trip her young grandchildren David and Shawn exhausted poor Carol exploring the Freedom Trail, taking her to the top at the Bunker hill tower and visiting every historic site.

Carol always loved to help and was a hard worker. She visited her daughter Linda when Allen and Linda had moved to Virginia. They were in the process of building a large paver patio out of heavy 18-inch pavers. Each day Carol would tell Linda – let us surprise Allen when he comes home from work by putting in more of the patio. Poor Linda… because Carol was in her eighties – Linda tried to put in two blocks for every one that Carol laid. But even in her eighties Carol kept up a torrid pace. Linda was exhausted every day until the patio was finished. Yes, Allen was surprised.

In the end, even when Carol could not walk without assistance, if anyone was working in the kitchen – she wanted to be in the kitchen – so she could help. If we told her we did not need help she would be sad and disappointed. So, Linda would find a dish that “needed” drying or a vegetable that “needed” to be peeled. That made her happy.

Carol passed away in her home – as she always wanted - on January 31, 2026, at the age of 96. Carol will be missed by those that loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Ruth; mother-in-law, Margaret; sisters, Betty and Donna; and her husband, Wayne. She is survived by her son, Terry (Peggy) Taylor of Lakewood; daughter, Linda (Allen) Stetson of Lakewood; brother, Bill (Jo) Charlton of Lakewood; Grandson Bryan (Katie) Taylor of Lakewood; grandson, Kevin (Amber) Taylor of Centennial; grandson, David (Stacey) Stetson of Lakewood; and Grandson Shawn Stetson of Lakewood. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.

A funeral service will be held on February 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at St. Paul's Community Church, located at 8001 W 23rd Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214. A reception will follow.

Carol will be laid to rest at 2:00 pm at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, Staging Area A, 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.