Cherry Taylor

Cherry Taylor, 93, of Eugene passed away Wednesday, December 15, 2021, in Springfield, Oregon after complications from a fall.

Cherry was born in Lakeview on September 9, 1928, the fifth of eight children born to Con and Mary (O’Shea) Taylor.  She spent her childhood in Lakeview and Plush. Cherry graduated from Lakeview High School in 1946. She received the Daly Fund and attended Oregon State University, followed by the University of Oregon where she graduated in 1950. She then earned her Master's at the University of Southern California in 1952.  She began her teaching career in the San Francisco Bay area and taught at high schools in Livermore, Sebastopol, Orinda, and Berkley until 1964. She returned to Oregon and was a professor of English and Writing at Southern Oregon College, Portland State University, University of Oregon, and Lane Community College until 1993. She positively encouraged and influenced many students throughout her career. She had a passion for helping her students recognize their power through writing. She especially gave a voice to the underprivileged students and working adults in her classrooms.

Cherry had a lively intellect and was a lifelong scholar.  After retirement, she embraced technology, even teaching computer classes to senior citizens when she herself was in her 70’s and 80’s. She was active in the Eugene Lions club, alumni organizations, the local mechanical watch group, and St. Mary’s Church. She often returned to Lake County for family gatherings, class reunions, and the Lake County RoundUp.

Cherry was proceeded in death by her parents, Con and Mary ‘Mae’ Taylor; siblings Mary Taylor Fitzgerald, Nora Taylor, Barry Taylor, Teresa Taylor Fetsch, Neil Taylor, Susanne Taylor Butler, and Sharon Taylor; nephews Ernest Fetsch and Tim Taylor; niece Margaret Mary Verhaeghe.

She is survived by her sister in law, Virginia Taylor, nephews and nieces, Con and Sally Fitzgerald, Mary and Dick Bradbury, Patty Fitzgerald, Sharon Fitzgerald, Barbara, and Dan Hatfield, Brenda Taylor, Teresa Taylor, and Henry Sholar, John and Theresa Taylor, Marla and Bob Wolf, Evy Taylor, Carla and Tom Martin, Janet and Christian Schlect, Rick Verhaege, Nora Taylor, Karmen, and Tom O’Leary, Carrie and Lance Brown and godson John Verling.  She is survived by many great-nephews, nieces, extended family, and friends.

Her family was very important to her and she encouraged and supported each one, often sending cards, and photos, accompanied by cool gadgets or a book or article on subjects you may have mentioned an interest in, or perhaps a box full of every book ever written on that subject. She was generous whenever she saw an interest or a need and she loved us all.

Cherry spent her life teaching, encouraging, and enriching the lives of those she met.  Throughout her long life, she held fast to her family, her friends, her faith, and her values- a truly honorable lady.

Donations may be made in Cherry’s memory to the Daly Fund or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held Wednesday, December 22 at 3 pm at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Lakeview. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 3:30 pm. A gathering will be held afterward at the Eagles Lodge. Internment at Sunset Park Cemetery is to be held on Thursday, December 23 at 3 pm.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cherry Taylor, please visit our floral store.