Marlene A. Taylor

Marlene was a woman who showed up for people. Whether it was a coffee date with former coworkers, a daily walk no matter the weather, or sitting beside a stranger newly diagnosed with breast cancer to tell her, “I’ve been there, and you’re going to get through this,” Marlene gave her time freely and her heart fully. As a breast cancer survivor herself, she spent 10 years volunteering with Reach for Recovery, offering comfort and honest, hard-won advice to women walking a path she knew all too well. It wasn’t just a cause to her — it was personal, and so was every person she helped.

That same spirit carried into everything she touched. She served as Division Chairperson for the Red Cross’s House to House program, found a spiritual home at Good Shepherd Church, and proudly wore her 50-year pin as a member of the Social Order of the Beauceant — a milestone that speaks to a lifetime of quiet, faithful commitment.

Marlene also had a wonderful sense of adventure. She set out to see this country and made it to all 50 states, collecting stories along the way that she loved to share. Closer to home, she spent her working years at Oglivies in Calcutta, building friendships that lasted well beyond her time there — the same coworkers she continued meeting for coffee for years after.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Paul E. Taylor, and her siblings, Kenny Dotson, Margaret “Boots” Dotson, and Sarah “Sally” McLaughlin. She now carries their memory with her.

Marlene leaves behind a family that adored her: her nieces and nephews, Adrienne Martin, Brian Doughty, Rhonda Cunningham, Jeffrey Taylor, Jodi Johnson, and Kim Williams, along with a wonderful, sprawling group of great- and great-great nieces and nephews who will grow up hearing stories about their remarkable Aunt Marlene.

True to who she was, Marlene asked that in place of flowers, people instead “take someone to lunch who does not get out too often.” It’s a fitting final request from a woman who spent her life making sure others felt less alone. Her family also wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Calcutta Healthcare, who gave Marlene comfort, dignity, and peace in her final days.

Marlene lived a life shaped by faith, devotion to family, and an unwavering instinct to care for others. She will be deeply missed, and fondly remembered, by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

6/26/26